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The role of indirect calorimetry in the treatment and rehabilitation of patients in long-term unconsciousness after brain damage

Background. Nutritional support is an important part of the treatment of critically ill patients. However, there are no specific recommendations for patients in a long unconscious state after brain damage to determine their energy needs. Aim. To determine the role of indirect calorimetry in assessing the energy expenditure of patients in prolonged unconsciousness after brain damage. Methods. Prospective cohort study included 81 patients with brain damage who were treated in the intensive care unit. All patients with prolonged unconsciousness had stayed in the intensive care unit for more than 30 days. Mean age of patients was 48.4 ± 16.3 years. Men were predominant (58%). Almost all patients had normal body mass index (BMI) (mean 22.8 ± 6.2 kg/m 2 ). The main cause of brain damage was severe traumatic injury (42%). There were also patients with consequences of subarachnoid hemorrhage (35%), stroke (19%) and hypoxic damage (4%). Results. According to indirect calorimetry, mean energy requirements in patients in prolonged unconsciousness was 25.12 ± 8.8 kcal/kg/day (1595.3 ± 560 kcal/day). Variability of this value was high in this sample (10.6–61.6 kcal/kg/day, 673–3514 kcal/day). According to urine nitrogen loss, mean protein requirement was 0.83 ± 0.46 g/kg/day that was lower than the recommended values for critically ill patients. Variability of data obtained by indirect calorimetry was higher than that of the calculated values despite statistically similar energy requirements of patients. Variability of data obtained by Harris-Benedict equation ranged from 15.4 kcal/kg/day (1023 kcal/day) to 37.3 kcal/kg/day (2065 kcal/day). There was no relationship between energy expenditure and causes of brain damage. Moreover, significant correlation between metabolic rate, urine nitrogen loss and outcomes of disease was also absent. Conclusion. Indirect calorimetry alone is not enough to prescribe optimal nutritional support in patients with prolonged unconsciousness if function of the gastrointestinal tract and other factors affecting energy expenditure are not considered.