Children tolerate intradialytic oral nutrition.
Andrew M South, Bonnie Fainman, Scott M Sutherland and 1 others
PMID 29230952WHAT IT FOUND
Children eating during haemodialysis mostly tolerated it.
Across 93 sessions, 80% had no nurse-reported adverse effects; hypotension and cramping occurred in 8% each. Most children felt better after eating, especially if hungry before dialysis.
Key findings
01Across 93 HD sessions, 80% had no nurse-reported adverse effects; hypotension and cramping each occurred in 8% of sessions.
02Most patient surveys reported feeling better after eating on HD (72%), and only 2% reported feeling worse.
03Children who felt hungry before HD were more likely to feel better after eating, but also more likely to have an adverse effect.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
Only 8 children completed the study, although the unit normally treats about 15 children, so the results may not apply to other paediatric dialysis populations. There was no control group or randomization, so it cannot show that eating during dialysis caused any change. Food was not standardized or quantified, so the type and amount of food may have varied. No nutritional status markers were measured, so the study cannot show improved nutrition, growth, or quality of life. No demographic or clinical information was collected, so it is unclear which children were at higher risk. Each child completed multiple surveys, and potentially confounding factors could not be controlled. Adverse effects were nurse-recorded and limited to hypotension, nausea, or cramping; aspiration was not measured.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that eating during haemodialysis improves nutrition or growth. This study measured nurse-recorded adverse effects and how children felt after eating, not nutritional status, and it included only 8 children at one centre.