Metabolic abnormalities in patients with acute severe brain injury: a pilot study
- Authors: Protasova D.V.1, Zhakova L.P.1, Tsentsiper L.M.1,2, Leyderman I.N.1
-
Affiliations:
- National Medical Research Center named after V.A. Almazov
- Peoples’ Friendship Universitу of Russia
- Issue: Vol 6, No 3 (2025)
- Pages: 106-115
- Section: Original Study Articles
- URL: https://journals.rcsi.science/2658-4433/article/view/363053
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.17816/clinutr694196
- EDN: https://elibrary.ru/EBITVS
- ID: 363053
Cite item
Full Text
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Acute brain injury is frequently associated with a hypermetabolic/hypercatabolic syndrome. Both hypo- and hyper-nutrition have a negative effect on treatment outcomes. However, the actual energy needs in this group of patients are poorly understood.
AIM: This study aimed to compare the energy needs in patients with acute, severe brain injuries with those of patients at high risk, using equations and indirect calorimetry data.
METHODS: This prospective, comparative, observational, open-label study included patients with severe acute brain injury and those at high risk of severe central nervous system injury. All patients received neurovegetative stabilization and enteral nutrition. Energy needs were determined using indirect calorimetry and equations such as the Harris-Benedict equation for spontaneously breathing patients, and the Penn State equation for mechanically ventilated patients. Measurements were taken at the start of neurovegetative stabilization, on day 2, and at the end of treatment. Enteral nutrition was prescribed based on indirect calorimetry data. The patients were divided into two groups: one group with an acute cerebrovascular accident (CVA), or acute brain injury, and another group with arteriovenous malformation (AVM) at a high risk of CVA.
RESULTS: The study included 18 patients (8 men, 10 women; mean age: 53 ± 17 years). Nine patients (50.0%) had hemorrhagic CVA, 2 patients (11.1%) had ischemic CVA, and 7 patients (38.9%) had AVM. Sixteen patients (88.9%) underwent surgery. Indirect calorimetry showed that the basal metabolic rate in the CVA group was higher than in the AVM group: 1584 ± 1131 kcal/day vs 1236 ± 198 kcal/day on day 1, and 1605 ± 738 kcal/day vs 1167 ± 303 kcal/day on day 2. Upon neurovegetative stabilization completed on day 10, the basal metabolism rate stabilized at 1676 ± 628 kcal/day in the CVA group and 1606 ± 504 kcal/day in the AVM group.
The estimated basal metabolic rates in the CVA group were consistently higher than those in the AVM group: 1703 ± 610 kcal/day vs 1509 ± 482 kcal/day on day 1 and 1777 ± 677 kcal/day vs 1515 ± 512 kcal/day on day 2. After neurovegetative stabilization was completed on day 10, the estimated basal metabolic rates were 1789 ± 590 kcal/day in the CVA group and 1597 ± 490 kcal/day in the AVM group.
CONCLUSION: On day 1 of neurovegetative stabilization, indirect calorimetry revealed that the energy needs of most patients were lower than the estimated rates. After neurovegetative stabilization was completed, the actual energy needs slightly differed from the estimated ones.
About the authors
Diana V. Protasova
National Medical Research Center named after V.A. Almazov
Author for correspondence.
Email: diana26-26@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0001-9198-8058
SPIN-code: 8774-5329
MD
Russian Federation, St. PetersburgLolita P. Zhakova
National Medical Research Center named after V.A. Almazov
Email: zhakova_lolita@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0009-0004-8585-4634
MD
Russian Federation, St. PetersburgLubov M. Tsentsiper
National Medical Research Center named after V.A. Almazov; Peoples’ Friendship Universitу of Russia
Email: lmt1971@yandex.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0001-7527-7707
SPIN-code: 3320-4209
MD, Dr. Sci. (Medicine), Professor
Russian Federation, St. Petersburg; MoscowIlya N. Leyderman
National Medical Research Center named after V.A. Almazov
Email: inl230970@gmail.com
ORCID iD: 0000-0001-8519-7145
SPIN-code: 7118-6680
MD, Dr. Sci. (Medicine), Professor
Russian Federation, St. PetersburgReferences
- Petrikov SS, Khubutia MSh, Popova TS, editors. Parenteral and enteral nutrition: national guidelines. 2nd ed., revised and enlarged. Moscow: GEOTAR-Media; 2023. 1168 p. (In Russ.) ISBN: 978-5-9704-7277-4 doi: 10.33029/9704-7277-4-PAR-2023-1-1168 EDN: FXMQGG
- Magyar CTJ, Schnüriger B, Köhn N, et al. Longitudinal analysis of caloric requirements in critically ill trauma patients: a retrospective cohort study. Eur J Trauma Emerg Surg. 2024;50:913–923. doi: 10.1007/s00068-023-02429-z EDN: MBZGIS
- Cehan VD, Cehan AR, Pui MC, Lazar A. A New Perspective on overfeeding in the intensive care unit (ICU): challenges, dangers and prevention methods. Life. 2025;15(5):828. doi: 10.3390/life15050828
- Kondratyev AN, Tsentsiper LM, Kondratyeva EA, Nazarov RV. Neurovegetative stabilization as a pathogenetic therapy for brain injury. Russian Journal of Anesthesiology and reanimatology. 2014;(1):82–84. EDN: RWIHKF
- Ramsay MA, Savage TM, Simpson B, et al. Controlled sedation with alphaxalone-alphadolone. Br Med J. 1974;2(5920):656–659. doi: 10.1136/bmj.2.5920.656
- Lesteva NA, Rybakov GYu, Ivanova VYu, Kondratyev AN. Assessment of the vegetative status of neurosurgery patients using Aschner reflex and Kerdo’s index. Russian Neurosurgical Journal named after Professor A.L. Polenov. 2022;14(2):84–91. EDN: SIFGSQ
- Walker RN, Heuberger RA. Predictive equations for energy needs for the critically ill. Respir Care. 2009;54:509–521.
- Oshima T, Berger MM, Waele ED, et al. Indirect calorimetry in nutritional therapy. A position paper by the ICALIC study group. Clin Nutr. 2017;36(3):651–662. doi: 10.1016/j.clnu.2016.06.010
- Sessler CN, Gosnell MS, Grap MJ, et al. The Richmond agitation–sedation scale: validity and reliability in adult intensive care unit patients. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2002;166(10):1338–1344. doi: 10.1164/rccm.2107138
- Singer P, Blaser AR, Berger MM, et al. ESPEN practical and partially revised guideline: Clinical nutrition in the intensive care unit. Clin Nutr. 2023;42(9):1671–1689. doi: 10.1016/j.clnu.2023.07.011 EDN: TQSVZO
- Compher C, Bingham AL, McCall M, et al. Guidelines for the provision of nutrition support therapy in the adult critically ill patient: The American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition. JPEN J Parenter Enteral Nutr. 2022;46(1):12–41. doi: 10.1002/jpen.2267 EDN: FUKXPQ
- Osuka A, Uno T, Nakanishi J, et al. Energy expenditure in patients with severe head injury: controlled normothermia with sedation and neuromuscular blockade. J Crit Care. 2013;28(2):218.e9–218.e13. doi: 10.1016/j.jcrc.2012.05.012
- Ershov VI, Leiderman IN, Dobrynin AS. Malnutrition in patients with cerebral stroke. Clinical nutrition and metabolism. 2023;4(4):246–255. doi: 10.17816/clinutr633216 EDN: HQSEAK
- Dreval AV, Vysotsky VG, Yatsyshina TA, et al. Indirect calorimetry in the differential diagnosis of the metabolic status of obese patients with non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus. Problems of Endocrinology. 1993;39;(2):4–7. EDN: KJWSET
- Ershov VI, Leiderman IN, Belkin AA, et al. Protein-energy malnutrition prevalence and influence on complications and outcome of severe stroke, requiring mechanical ventilation: A multicenter prospective observational trial. Saltanov Intensive Care Bulletin. 2024;(1):58–68. doi: 10.21320/1818-474X-2024-1-58-68 EDN: IVYANG
Supplementary files

