The Cost Effectiveness of Early Enterostomy Tube Placement After Traumatic Brain Injury
The survivor of traumatic brain injury is at risk for nutritional problems due to hypermetabolism. Adequate nutritional support provided within 48 hours after injury has been shown to improve neurological recovery and decrease complications. Various methods of nutritional support are available, including total parenteral nutrition and enteral nutrition, and there is considerable controversy regarding the best method. The proposed study evaluates two types of enteral feeding, nasogastric and enterostomy tubes, to determine their relationships with rehabilitation outcomes and cost of care.