Comparison of Enteral and Parenteral Nutrition in Cancer Patients with Dyspnea: Evidence-Based Case Report
Ni Putu Menganti Harum Putrinata1 Gurmeet Singh2
1Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia
2Pulmonology Division, Internal Medicine Department, Cipto Mangunkusumo National General Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia
Background: The role of nutritional support for cancer patients in palliative care still become a controversial topic, because an ambiguity in choosing between enteral and parenteral treatment were still found in clinical practice, yet a comparison of effectiveness between enteral and parenteral nutrition in cancer patients with dyspnea still remain scarce.
Objective: The purpose of this evidence-based case report is to identify the effectiveness of enteral nutrition compared to parenteral nutrition in adult patients with cancer and dyspnea.
Methods: Literature searching were performed on Pubmed, Cochrane, and Google Scholar database to obtain RCT studies. Searches were made with keyword “enteral nutrition”, “parenteral nutrition”, “dyspnea” “cancer” and “dyspnea score”. Selecting the studies were further based on exclusion and inclusion criteria by results, title, abstract, and full-text screening.
Result: Two studies were found to be relevant according to the criteria. These studies showed that enteral nutrition showed more effectiveness compared to parenteral nutrition in reducing dyspnea score. Study by Cotogni P et al showed enteral nutrition was more significant in giving lower Modified Borg Dyspnea Score [p =0.01], similarly to the results of study by Kao et al [p=0.05]. However, included study patients is different than patients in clinical practice settings. Therefore, there is a consideration regarding the applicability.
Conclusion: Based on two articles that have been reviewed, enteral nutrition has a positive effect on reducing Modified Borg Dyspnea Score in patients with cancer compared to parenteral nutrition.
Keywords: enteral nutrition, parenteral nutrition, dyspnea score, cancer
