Gut failure : predictor of or contributor to mortality in mechanically ventilated blunt trauma patients ?

Thirty-seven ventilator-dependent blunt trauma patients (ISS 36±15) were randomized at 24 hours after injury to receive parenteral (TPN) (n=15), enteral (TEN) (n=12), or parenteral plus enteral (PN/EN) (n=10) nutrition. The TEN and PN/EN patients had endoscopically placed transpyloric feeding tubes. Patients who had nutritional complications were two TPN (13%), three TEN (25%), and five PN/EN (50%). Enteral complications were tube occlusion (two), failed duodenal intubation (one), patient extubation of feeding tube (one), gastric reflux (two), and abdominal distention (two)