Experience of Using A Semi-Elemental Formula For Home Enteral Nutrition In Children: A Multicenter Cross-Sectional Study.

OBJECTIVES: The use of semi-elemental diets concerns a small proportion of children on enteral nutrition whose characteristics have never been reported. Our aim was to describe a cohort of patients on home enteral nutrition with Peptamen Junior, including the tolerance and nutritional efficacy of this product.

METHODS: We performed a retrospective multicenter survey on a cohort of patients receiving this semi-elemental diet at home between 2010 and 2015 in 14 tertiary pediatric French centers. We recorded at baseline, 3, 6 and 12 months, and then every year the anthropometric characteristics of the patients, indications and modalities of administration of the diet, and the tolerance and adverse events.

RESULTS: We recruited 136 patients aged 9.8 ± 4.4 years at baseline. Mean BMI z-score was -1.0 ± 1.8; mean height z-score was -1.1 ± 1.9. The main underlying diseases were digestive (35.3%), neurological (33.1%), and haematological (19.9%). The indications for a semi-elemental diet were failure of another diet in 70 patients (51.9%), severe malnutrition in 19 (14.1%), cystic fibrosis in 11 (8.1%) and switch from parenteral nutrition in 11 (8.1%). Side effects were observed in 39.2% of the patients, and required medical attention in 8.2%. Body mass index improved or remained normal in 88.3% of children.

CONCLUSIONS: This semi-elemental diet seems to be well tolerated and efficient in the setting of home enteral nutrition in children with complex diseases featuring malabsorption and/or after failure of polymeric diet.