Caloric value and qualitative composition of food rations in patients with burns
Buznik, I.M.
Klinicheskaia Meditsina 53(5): 129-132
1975
ISSN/ISBN: 0023-2149 PMID: 1152385 Document Number: 87796
The diet of patients with 3rd and 4th degree burns covering from 7 to 43% of body surface, all of whom were in a state of exhaustion, contained protein 160 g, of which 106 g was of animal origin, fats 125, carbohydrate 560 g, total energy 4115 kcal and vitamins. Protein utilisation was 92.5, fat 94.4 and carbohydrate 93.5% . Transfusion of blood, plasma or albumin increased protein intake to 200 g in some patients. For the very ill, dietary protein contributed 57, amino peptides 29 and blood 14% of total daily N intake; for the convalescent, 69 to 100% was from the diet and only 3% from blood. With high protein intake excretion of total N in urine was 7.7 to 20.6 g, average 15.1 plus or minus 1.2 g/day. N balance in 3 patients was positive; in 9 it was negative. Total protein in blood was low in 1 patient, globulin in all was high with an albumin:globulin ratio of 0.5:0.7. Excretion of NH3 and amino N rose slightly, the creatinine coefficient was normal, but creatinine in urine was high. The negative N balance was attributed to loss of protein through the wound, which amounted to 18 to 20 mg/cm2 body surface or 108 to 122 g/day. It is suggested that, for patients with burns, a diet with protein 18 and fat 30% of total energy is adequate.