Table 2 Early versus late enteral nutrition

Age, months

36 (7–91)

18 (7.5–60)

0.11

Weight, kg

13 (6–20)

10 (6–16)

0.24

Body mass index

15.6 (13.5–17.7)

15.6 (14.2–18.2)

0.62

Male sex

33 (47.8%)

60 (47.6%)

0.98

Malnutrition

17 (24.6%)

37 (29.4%)

0.48

Complex chronic condition

31 (44.9%)

60 (47.6%)

0.72

Sepsis on admission

29 (42%)

58 (46%)

0.62

Admission pSOFA^ascore

4 (3–6)

5.5 (4–7)

0.004^*

PN^bgiven

10 (14.5%)

107 (84.9%)

<0.001^*

PICU^cMortality

1 (1.4%)

21 (16.7%)

0.001^*

PICU stay, days

4 (3–8)

11.5 (6.8–18)

<0.001^*

ARDS^d

0 (0%)

3 (2.4%)

0.55

Mechanical ventilation

3 (4.3%)

56 (44.4%)

<0.001^*

Mechanical ventilation duration, days

0 (0–0)

0 (0–6)

<0.001^*

Vasoactive medication use

11 (15.9%)

37 (29.4%)

0.037^*

Vasoactive infusion days

0 (0–0)

0 (0–1.3)

0.023^*

Hospital-acquired infections

12 (17.4%)

50 (39.7%)

0.001^*

 VAP^e

0 (0%)

9 (7.1%)

0.001^*

 CLABSI^f

5 (7.2%)

32 (25.4%)

 VAP+CLABSI^**

0 (0%)

5 (4%)

 Others^***

7 (10.1%)

4 (3.2%)

Central venous catheter days

0 (0–0)

7 (0–14.5)

<0.001^*

Enteral feeding intolerance

8 (11.6%)

26 (20.6%)

0.10

Full enteral caloric intake reached

62 (89.9%)

104 (82.5%)

0.17

Time to full enteral caloric intake, days

1 (1–2)

4 (2.3–6)

<0.001^*