Effect of a high-protein diet on weaning from mechanical ventilation in critically ill patients

Background One of the most popular short-term life support methods in the world is mechanical ventilation, which can be used for a wide range of conditions, including multiple organ failure and critically ill patients who are nonsurgical. Aim To illustrate how a diet rich in protein affects: diaphragmatic thickness and diaphragmatic excursion using ultrasound and its reflection on weaning from mechanical ventilation and mortality. Patients and methods This single-center, randomized controlled study involved 60 critically ill patients. Group I consisted of studied cases, who were given a high-protein diet (2.0 g/kg/day) for 7 days, whereas group II consisted of studied cases who were given a standard protein diet (1.2 g/kg/day) using enteral formulas. Patients were recruited and assessed for eligibility from the ICUs in Alexandria Main University Hospital. Results There was a statistically significant increase in diaphragmatic thickness during inspiration, diaphragmatic thickening fraction, and diaphragmatic excursion between studied cases in group I compared with group II at day 3 and day 7. Meanwhile, there was no significant difference between the studied groups at day 0. There was a statistically significant reduction in the number of studied cases weaned from mechanical ventilation among patients in group II compared with group I, and group II exposed a higher mortality rate after 28 days in the ICU. Conclusion Studied cases with a standard protein diet showed lower diaphragmatic thickness and excursion compared with those with a high-protein diet, especially after 7 days, and lower weaning from mechanical ventilation, but higher mortality rates during ICU stays.