PD302 - EVALUATING THE ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT OF MALNUTRITION IN TRAUMA PATIENTS

PD302

EVALUATING THE ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT OF MALNUTRITION IN TRAUMA PATIENTS

 

L. Branch^1,*, A. McLaughlin ¹

¹University of Leeds , Leeds , United Kingdom

 

Rationale: Major trauma patients are at an increased risk of malnutrition and adverse outcomes as a result. This study audits if adults admitted under the major trauma department within Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust are screened for malnutrition within 24 hours of admission using a validated screening tool and if nutritional support is initiated within 72 hours of recognising risk. It also gathers secondary outcomes to emphasise the risk of harm in delayed screening or administration of nutritional support.

Methods: This single-centre audit was undertaken in a retrospective cross sectional design, and involved patients admitted to the major trauma department of LTHT between 1st- 31st June 2024. Data from 40 eligible patients was collected and anonymised. Data analysis involved generating descriptive statistics with Microsoft Excel which were displayed with tables and graphs. 

Results: Malnutrition risk screening

29/40 patients were screened within 24 hours of admission. 4/11 patients not screened at all during admission. 16/40 patients had no weight recorded on admission

 

Nutritional support:​

5/6 patients requiring additional nutritional support had it initiated within 72 hours of recognition of risk​

 

Secondary outcomes: 

Delayed screening- 2/11 patients experienced infectious complications

Delayed nutritional support- no adverse outcomes noted 

 

Additional findings: 

- 10/40 had 2 or more weights documented during admission​​

Conclusion: This audit has highlighted key evidence on gaps in malnutrition risk screening and weight documentation in major trauma patients on admission to hospital. Whilst it doesn't draw significant association between delayed screening/ nutritional support and adverse outcomes, it aims to provide recommendations for education of clinical staff on malnutrition risks and screening in major trauma patients. 

Disclosure of Interest: None declared