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Comparison of the Effects of Intermittent and Continuous Enteral Feeding on Glucose-Insulin Dynamics in Critically Ill Medical Patients

Comparison of the Effects of Intermittent and Continuous Enteral Feeding on Glucose-Insulin Dynamics in Critically Ill Medical Patients

Status
Completed
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT02853799
Enrollment
26
Registered
2016-08-03
Start date
2016-08-31
Completion date
2017-10-31
Last updated
2019-10-21

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Glucose-insulin Dynamics

Brief summary

Continuous enteral feeding is the most common type of nutrition used in critically ill patients despite being non-physiologic, as all mammalian alimentary tracts have been designed for intermittent ingestion of nutrients. The small numbers of randomized controlled studies that have compared intermittent gastric feeds (IGF) to continuous gastric feeds (CGF) in intensive care units have demonstrated that IGF is safe, feasible and have the shorter time to goal nutrition. Studies of healthy adults have also demonstrated that the mean glucose concentration (MGC) is lowered when bolus enteral feedings are used instead of continuous feeds; these changes in glucose-insulin metrics might be beneficial to a critically ill patient population where stress hyperglycemia is common. This study will compare the effects of CGF and IGF in a critically ill medical patient population. Glucose-insulin dynamics for each type of enteral feed will be analyzed by performing a randomized crossover study to compare the effects of CGF and IGF on MGC, total insulin infused, glucose variability (GV), episodes of hypoglycemia and maximum glucose concentration values.

Detailed description

This will be a non-blinded randomized crossover study in a generalized population of critically ill adults. The population of this study is defined from the ages of 18-90 admitted to the Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU). This study will compare the glucose-insulin dynamics in critically ill adults that are feed using either a CGF or IGF scheme while their glucose concentrations are maintained between 140-180 mg/dl using an insulin infusion protocol. Randomization performed using computer generated random numbers kept individually in sealed envelopes. All participants will have nasal gastric or oral gastric (NG/OG) tube previously placed for their nutritional needs. The amount of Osmolite given will be determined by the ideal weight for each participant: 1.2 cal/ml Osmolite with caloric goal of 25 kcal/kg/day. Feeding intolerance develops which is defined as: excessive abdominal distention, emesis, abdominal pain, vomiting and gastric residual \> 250 ml for IGF and gastric residual \> 500 ml for CGF.

Interventions

OTHERComparison of the Effects of Intermittent and Continuous Enteral Feeding on Glucose-Insulin Dynamics in Critically Ill Medical Patients

1. Placement of feeding tube stomach (oral- or naso-gastric tube) 2. Randomized to receive either continuous feeding or intermittent feeding first. Once at goal nutrition for 4 hours, enter first 4-hour data collection interval. Next proceed with cross-over and complete a 4-hour washout period with the feed type. Finally enter second 4-hour data collection period. To enter into the first data collection period, the patient would require an insulin infusion. 3. There will be five blood glucose checks in each data collection period. 4. If two blood glucose concentrations are above 180 mg/dl then a regular insulin infusion will be initiated.

DIETARY_SUPPLEMENTOsmolite 1.2 cal/ml Enteral Feeds

Osmolite 1.2 cal/ml Enteral Feeds via feeding tube (oral- or naso-gastric tube)

Sponsors

San Antonio Military Medical Center
Lead SponsorFED

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
CROSSOVER
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 90 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Age 18-90 years * Anticipated ICU stay greater than 72 hours * Expected indication for enteral feeding within first 24-48 hours of ICU admission

Exclusion criteria

* Any contraindications relating to an oral or nasal gastric tube, Osmolite 1.2 cal/ml, goal rate (or goal volume) of Osmolite 1.2 cal/ml using a 24-hour goal nutrition, gastric feeds due to anatomical/physiological pathology, ideal body weight that exceeds 85 kg to maintain goal volumes in the intermittent arm below 301 ml or a potassium greater than 6.4. * Planned procedures or tests that would require holding gastric feeds during the protocol. * Pregnancy, confirmed by pregnancy test on all females \< 60 years of age. * Hemodynamic instability as defined by any vasoactive medication requirement for blood pressure support or cardiac arrhythmias to include: Norepinephrine ≥ 5 mcg/min, Epinephrine ≥ 5 mcg/min, Dopamine \> 5 mcg/kg/min, Milrinone 0.375mcg/kg/min, Vasopressin \> 0.04 Units/min, Dobutamine \> 5 mcg/kg/min, any other vasoactive drip, and any combination of low dose vasopressors listed above. Atrial Nodal blocking agents used in a continuous drip form to include diltiazem, esmolol and amiodarone are allowed if not requiring the above vasoactive medications restrictions. * Prior surgical procedure that would preclude a goal rate/or volume for CGF/IGF to include: previous partial or complete gastrectomy or massive intestinal resection leaving less than 200 cm of small bowel. * Screening glucose concentration less than 120 mg/dl while NPO unless diabetic.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Total insulin infusedtotal time in the protocol should be 36 hours to include crossoverTotal insulin infused

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Mean glucose concentrationtime the protocol should be 36 hours to include crossoverMean glucose concentration

Other

MeasureTime frameDescription
Glucose standard deviationtotal time in the protocol should be 36 hours to include crossoverGlucose standard deviation
Maximum glucose concentrationtotal time in the protocol should be 36 hours to include crossoverMaximum glucose concentration
Minimum glucose concentrationtotal time in the protocol should be 36 hours to include crossoverMinimum glucose concentration
Episodes of hypoglycemiatotal time in the protocol should be 36 hours to include crossoverGlucose concentration \< 70 mg/dl

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026