Braden scale has low reliability in different patients under care in intensive care unit

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the inter-reliability of the Braden scale and its subscales for different patients assisted in the intensive care unit. We hypothesized that the Braden scale has low reliability in different populations. METHODS: This reliability study involved the Braden scale in intensive care unit of a hospital. A total of 200 patients were admitted to the intensive care unit in four different groups: neurological patients, sepsis, elderly, and adults affected by trauma. The Braden scale is a tool composed of six subscales for patient assessment: sensory perception, humidity, activity, mobility, nutrition, and friction. The total score was also calculated. The Braden scale was applied by two different nurses with an interval of 20-30 min between applications. RESULTS: For all populations, kappa values considered unsuitable were observed for most categories of the Braden scale, ranging from 0.06-0.25. Only for the total Braden scale score was moderate reliability identified in all groups evaluated, with intraclass correlation coefficient values ranging from 0.48-0.75. CONCLUSIONS: Braden scale is not a reliable tool to be used in the intensive care unit, and we do not recommend the use of this scale to assess the risk of developing pressure injury.

Comparação entre ingestão ideal de calorias mais alto teor de proteínas e ingestão calórico-proteica recomendada em pacientes críticos: um ensaio clínico fase II, prospectivo, randomizado e controlado / Optimized calorie and high protein intake versus recommended caloric-protein intake in critically ill patients: a prospective, randomized, controlled phase II clinical trial

RESUMO Objetivo: Avaliar as diferenças entre os desfechos da terapia nutricional com ingestão ideal de calorias mais alto teor proteico e do padrão de cuidados nutricionais em pacientes críticos adultos. Métodos: Randomizamos pacientes com previsão de permanecer na unidade de terapia intensiva por pelo menos 3 dias. No grupo com ingestão ideal de calorias mais alto teor proteico, a necessidade de ingestão calórica foi determinada por calorimetria indireta e a ingestão proteica foi estabelecida em níveis de 2,0 a 2,2g/kg/dia. O grupo controle recebeu calorias em nível de 25kcal/kg/dia e 1,4 a 1,5g/kg/dia de proteínas. O desfecho primário foi o escore do sumário do componente físico obtido aos 3 e 6 meses após a randomização. Os desfechos secundários incluíram força de preensão manual quando da alta da unidade de terapia intensiva, duração da ventilação mecânica e mortalidade hospitalar. Resultados: A análise incluiu 120 pacientes. Não houve diferença significante entre os dois grupos em termos de calorias recebidas. Contudo, a quantidade de proteínas recebidas pelo grupo com nível ideal de calorias mais alto teor de proteínas foi significantemente mais alta do que a recebida pelo grupo controle. O escore do sumário componente físico aos 3 e 6 meses após a randomização não diferiu entre ambos os grupos, assim como não diferiram os desfechos secundários. Entretanto, após ajuste para covariáveis, um delta proteico negativo (proteínas recebidas menos a necessidade proteica predeterminada) se associou com escore do sumário do componente físico mais baixo nas avaliações realizadas 3 e 6 meses após a randomização. Conclusão: Neste estudo, a estratégia com ingestão calórica ideal mais elevado teor proteico não pareceu melhorar a qualidade de vida física em comparação aos cuidados nutricionais padrão. Contudo, após ajuste para covariáveis, um delta proteico negativo se associou com escores do sumário do componente físico mais baixos nas avaliações realizadas aos 3 e aos 6 meses após a randomização. Esta associação ocorreu independentemente do método de cálculo do alvo proteico.

ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate differences in outcomes for an optimized calorie and high protein nutrition therapy versus standard nutrition care in critically ill adult patients. Methods: We randomized patients expected to stay in the intensive care unit for at least 3 days. In the optimized calorie and high protein nutrition group, caloric intake was determined by indirect calorimetry, and protein intake was established at 2.0 to 2.2g/kg/day. The control group received 25kcal/kg/day of calories and 1.4 to 1.5g/kg/day protein. The primary outcome was the physical component summary score obtained at 3 and 6 months. Secondary outcomes included handgrip strength at intensive care unit discharge, duration of mechanical ventilation and hospital mortality. Results: In total, 120 patients were included in the analysis. There was no significant difference between the two groups in calories received. However, the amount of protein received by the optimized calorie and high protein nutrition group was significantly higher compared with the control group. The physical component summary score at 3 and 6 months did not differ between the two groups nor did secondary outcomes. However, after adjusting for covariates, a negative delta protein (protein received minus predetermined protein requirement) was associated with a lower physical component summary score at 3 and 6 months postrandomization. Conclusion: In this study optimized calorie and high protein strategy did not appear to improve physical quality of life compared with standard nutrition care. However, after adjusting for covariates, a negative delta protein was associated with a lower physical component summary score at 3 and 6 months postrandomization. This association exists independently of the method of calculation of protein target.

Evaluation of liver regeneration with use of diet supplemented with l-arginine

PURPOSE: To compare controlled liver regeneration in rats submitted to 60% hepatic resection having L-arginine supplemented diet, based on weight changes of the regenerated liver, laboratory parameters of liver function and pathological findings. METHODS: Thirty-six rats were divided into two groups, control and L- arginine. The first received standard chow and saline solution by gavage. The second had supplementation with L- arginine. Animals were killed on postoperative period at 24h, 72h and seven days. For analysis of liver regeneration was used Kwon formula for weight, laboratory tests and mitosis. RESULTS: Weight, showed no benefit with L- arginine supplementation; however, intergroup comparison in the first 24h observed positive effect on supplementation (p=0.008). Alkaline phosphatase was increased in arginine group (p<0.04). The number of mitoses showed no difference between the two groups; however, in the first 24 hours, the supplemented group had higher number of mitoses within the groups (p=0.03). CONCLUSION: Supplementation with L-arginine did not show benefits in liver regeneration; however, supplemented group in the first 24 hours showed benefits over 72 hours and seven days of the evaluation by weight gain and number of mitosis. .