jneuroJournal of Neurology and NeuropsychiatrycoVolume 2 Issue 1 (Jan-June)MultidisciplinaryEnglish6 monthsNNY20250521NeurologyFunctional Recovery and Outcome in Patients With Disorder of Consciousness Treated With Bolus Feeding and Early Verticalization: A Case SeriesEnglishY1724Linotype"EnglishNserif">style="font-family:"Verdana"EnglishYsans-serif">ValentinaColombo1*EnglishYPamelaSalucci1EnglishYFrancesca CesiraCava1EnglishYGiuseppeBonavina1EnglishYAlice RitaPortillo1EnglishYElisaMaietti2EnglishYRobertoPiperno3EnglishYBackground and Aims: Literature regarding enteral feeding modalities in patients with disorder of consciousness (DOC) secondary to acquired brain injury (ABI) is scant. Complications as gas-tro-esophageal reflux and aspiration pneumonia may be reduced using a correct posture during feeding. The primary aim is to evaluate the incidence of lung infections in DOC patients treated with high-speed intermittent enteral nutrition in a verticalized position. Secondary aims are to describe the impact of this management on patient care, nutritional status, sleep-wake rhythm, and functional status. Methods: In this prospective case series, 8 patients were monitored over 12 weeks and followed up 12 months after ABI. Enteral nutrition was administered starting from a speed of 64 cc/h and increased by 50 cc/h every 3 days. Data included: signs of infection, time in/out of bed, nutritional parameters, polysomnography, disability and cognitive scales. Results: No lung infections occurred. Nutritional status and sleep patterns improved. Time out of bed increased. Cognitive scale scores indicate an improvement in cognitive and disability profile. Conclusion: High-speed enteral nutrition with bolus modality did not increase infection risk and did not interfere with rehabilitation goals. Larger studies are needed to draw conclusive evidence on the management of enteral feeding and posture reconditioning in DOC patients.EnglishBrain injury; Disorder of consciousness; Rehabilitation; Enteral feeding; Aspiration pneu-moniaehttps://jneuro.clsconf.com/admin/abstract?id=9References1619Dhandapani, S.; Dhandapani, M.; Agarwal, M.; et al. The prognostic significance of the timing of total enteral feeding in traumatic brain injury. Surg. Neurol. Int. 2012, 3, 31. doi:10.4103/2152-7806.93858.[Google Scholar] [PubMed]Horn, S.D.; Kinikini, M.; Moore, L.W.; et al. Enteral Nutrition for Patients With Traumatic Brain Injury in the Rehabilitation Setting: Associations With Patient Preinjury and Injury Characteristics and Outcomes. Arch. Phys. Med. Rehabil. 2015, 96(8 Suppl), S245--S255. doi:10.1016/j.apmr.2014.06.024.[Google Scholar] [PubMed]Serpa, L.F.; Kimura, M.; Faintuch, J.; Ceconello, I. Effects of continuous versus bolus infusion of enteral nutrition in critical patients. Rev. 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