P512 - OPTIMIZING PRESSURE INJURY HEALING THROUGH SPECIALIZED ENTERAL NUTRITION SUPPORT IN HDU PATIENTS: A DIETITIAN-LED INTERVENTION STUDY

P512

OPTIMIZING PRESSURE INJURY HEALING THROUGH SPECIALIZED ENTERAL NUTRITION SUPPORT IN HDU PATIENTS: A DIETITIAN-LED INTERVENTION STUDY

A. A. Alfehaidi^1,*

¹HMC, Doha, Qatar

Rationale: Pressure injuries in enterally-fed High Dependency Unit (HDU) patients pose unique nutritional challenges. While standard enteral formulas provide basic nutrition, specialized nutrient supplementation through enteral feeding needs further investigation. Evaluating the effectiveness of a dietitian-led nutritional intervention, which includes specific amino acids and micronutrients, is crucial for understanding its impact on pressure injury healing in HDU patients.

Methods: A prospective study enrolled 40 adult HDU patients receiving enteral nutrition with Stage II-IV pressure injuries. The intervention group (n=20) received specialized enteral formula enriched with arginine (7g/L), glutamine (18g/L), β-hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate (3g/L), vitamin C (500mg/L), zinc (20mg/L), and standard multivitamins. The control group (n=20) received standard enteral formula. Wound healing was monitored weekly for 4 weeks using the percent healing equation: [(Initial wound area - Current wound area) / Initial wound area × 100].

Results: The intervention group demonstrated significantly higher healing rates compared to controls (45% vs. 28% reduction in wound area at 4 weeks, p<0.01). Mean time to 50% wound closure was 18 days in the intervention group versus 28 days in controls. Patients achieving optimal nutrient levels through supplemented enteral feeding showed 1.8 times faster healing rates compared to those receiving standard formula.

Conclusion: Dietitian-led specialized enteral nutrition support significantly improved pressure injury healing outcomes. The findings demonstrate the importance of targeted nutrient supplementation through enteral feeding in pressure injury management, establishing a clear role for dietitians in wound care teams.

Disclosure of Interest: None declared