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Background: the effective contribution of enteral nutrition (EN) in intensive care units (ICU) is due to multiple factors., Objectives: to determine the efficacy of caloric intake in critically ill patients with traumatic pathology receiving enteral nutrition, and to analyze cause and time of interruption of EN., Method: prospective observational study (November 2015 - August 2016)., Inclusion Criteria: patient with EN ≥ 48 hours and age ≥ 18 years., Exclusion Criteria: patient with oral and/or parenteral nutrition., Variables: demographic, day of EN, prescribed and administered kilocalories (kcal), caloric difference, caloric objective and variables related to the interruptions of the EN. The handling of EN and interruptions are made according to the unit's internal protocol. Kcal/patient are calculated according to the Harris-Benedict equation and multiplied by a stress factor depending on the type of trauma of the patient., Results: sixty-nine patients were included, 79.71% were men, with a median age of 46 (34-58) years. A total of 1,112 days of EN were monitored. As of the third day of admission to the ICU (979 days monitored), the nutritional efficacy was optimal (caloric intake > 80%): 92.43% (72.8-97.5). The optimal caloric goal was maintained in 67.9% of these days. The most frequent causes of interruption of NE were procedures unrelated to airway, with holding time of three (1-7.25) hours. CONCLUSIONS at the third day, the patients with traumatic pathology received at least 80% of the prescribed caloric intake. Among the most frequent causes of interruption of EN were the procedures unrelated to airway.

The aim of this study was to measure pain levels in noncommunicative patients with severe trauma who required tracheal suctioning and mobilization and to determine the utility of the Behavioral Indicators of Pain Scale (ESCID) in these cases. The pain scores for the procedures were recorded on Days 1, 3, and 6 of the patients' stay in the intensive care unit. These assessments were performed at 3 moments: before, during, and after the application of the procedures. Because of the longitudinal character of the study, data were fitted into a multivariate model using the Generalized Estimating Equations method. The sample of 124 patients comprised 77.4% males and 22.6% females with an average age of 45.93 (SD = 16.43) years. A significant increase (p < .01) in the ESCID score was observed during the application of the procedures that produced similar pain levels. Kappa coefficient value obtained for interobserver agreement of ESCID scale scores during the application of care procedures at the intervals being evaluated was greater than 0.84, which should be interpreted as almost perfect. The ESCID scores increased during 2 care procedures that are frequently carried out in intensive care units and indicated that they produced similar pain levels.