International Journal of Clinical Research

Objective This study aimed to evaluate the clinical efficacy of early sequential enteral nutrition support (ESENS) in critical patients following cardiac surgery, with the goal of providing new evidence and guidance for optimizing postoperative nutritional support strategies and improving rehabilitation quality and survival rates. Methods A single-center, retrospective case-control study was conducted involving eligible postoperative critical patients. Participants were rigorously screened using inclusion/exclusion criteria and divided into a case group and a control group. The case group received ESENS, initiating short-peptide-based enteral nutrition within 6 hours postoperatively and gradually transitioning to a whole-protein formula. The control group followed conventional nutritional support protocols. Key outcomes, including mechanical ventilation duration, ICU length of stay, immune indices (C-reactive protein [CRP] and lymphocyte counts), intestinal function recovery time, and feeding-related complication rates, were monitored. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 26.0. Results The case group demonstrated significantly shorter mechanical ventilation time and ICU stay compared to the control group (P < 0.05), indicating accelerated recovery. Immune parameters showed faster normalization of CRP levels and lymphocyte counts in the case group (P < 0.05). Intestinal function recovery was also significantly earlier in the case group (P < 0.05). Regarding safety, the incidence of diarrhea and aspiration was numerically lower in the case group, though the difference was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). Conclusion ESENS exhibits notable advantages in nutritional management for critical patients after cardiac surgery, significantly reducing mechanical ventilation duration and ICU stay while enhancing immune and intestinal function recovery with favorable safety profiles. This study provides robust evidence supporting ESENS as a safe and effective nutritional strategy worthy of broader clinical application.

Post-cardiac surgery; Early sequential enteral nutrition support; Clinical efficacy; Immune function; Intestinal function