Phase 2: Intervention Process
The patients were selected via non-probability purposive sampling based
on the inclusion and exclusion criteria within 24-48 hours after
admission to the ICU, matched in terms of age, gender, type of lesions,
GCS score, and type of lesions, and randomly divided into two groups.
Data were collected using observational laboratory methods. Two
treatment modalities were implemented after obtaining the demographic
data (age, gender, diagnosis upon admission, and classification of
hospitalization). Among the other collected data was personal
information of the patients, medicinal and medical history, and informed
consent was obtained from the patients or their legal representatives.
Following that, the patients were randomly divided into two groups of
control and intervention. Hemodynamic resuscitation and stabilization
were carried out within the first 24-48 hours of admission. Afterwards,
EN was initiated to provide 80-100% of the energy requirements of the
patients (25 kcal/kg body weight). The amount of formula required for
each patient was determined individually, and the treatment commenced
within the first 24-48 hours of hospitalization (seven times per every
24 hours). The intervention continued for 14 days. Blood sampling was
performed after the last gavage meal at night, similarly in both groups
on days zero, 7 and 14 (figure-1).