Mean VR was higher for patients in the study group
during the 1st week of EN (VR control group: 84.48% VR
study group: 88.20%, P = 0.0002) and also at day 12 of
EN (86.44% vs. 88.25% (P = 0.035). After the 2nd week
of EN, VR was superior for the control group at week 3
(VR control group: 93.50% VR study group: 89.20%) and
at week 4 (97.65% vs. 94.69%); this difference was not
statistically significant.
The number of patients with ‘‘ICU-acquired pneumonia’’
was 45 (27.3%) in the control group and 44
(28.0%) in the study group. Outcome variables (days on
mechanical ventilation, ventilator-free days, SOFA day 5,