The Use of Nutritional Supplement Containing Arginine, Glutamine and Beta-Hydroxy-Beta-Methylbutyrate in the Treatment of Pressure Ulcers in an ICU Patient

The Use of Nutritional Supplement Containing Arginine, Glutamine and Beta-Hydroxy-Beta-Methylbutyrate in the Treatment of Pressure Ulcers in an ICU Patient

Pressure ulcers are infrequent complications encountered in intensive care unit (ICU) patients. Conditions such as malignancy, diabetes mellitus, stroke or immune deficiency may lead to long periods of bed confinement. In this report, the case is presented of a patient with hypoxic brain who was followed up for more than seven months in ICU and developed pressure ulcers on the sacrum and gluteus. It was aimed to observe the effects on wound healing of arginine, glutamine, and beta-hydroxy-beta metylbutyrate (HMB) containing enteral formula feeding for twenty days. Positive results were observed on blood biochemical parameters and clinically on wound healing. From this observation, it can be concluded that nutritional formula containing arginine,glutamine and HMB can be used for nutritional support in patients with pressure ulcers.