{Reference Type}: Journal Article {Title}: A Randomized Noninferiority Trial to Compare Enteral to Parenteral Phosphate Replacement on Biochemistry, Waste, and Environmental Impact and Healthcare Cost in Critically Ill Patients With Mild to Moderate Hypophosphatemia. {Author}: Nguyen CD;Panganiban HP;Fazio T;Karahalios A;Ankravs MJ;MacIsaac CM;Rechnitzer T;Arno L;Tran-Duy A;McAlister S;Ali Abdelhamid Y;Deane AM; {Journal}: Crit Care Med {Volume}: 52 {Issue}: 7 {Year}: 2024 Jul 1 {Factor}: 9.296 {DOI}: 10.1097/CCM.0000000000006255 {Abstract}: OBJECTIVE: Hypophosphatemia occurs frequently. Enteral, rather than IV, phosphate replacement may reduce fluid replacement, cost, and waste.
METHODS: Prospective, randomized, parallel group, noninferiority clinical trial.
METHODS: Single center, 42-bed state trauma, medical and surgical ICUs, from April 20, 2022, to July 1, 2022.
METHODS: Patients with serum phosphate concentration between 0.3 and 0.75 mmol/L.
METHODS: We randomized patients to either enteral or IV phosphate replacement using electronic medical record-embedded program.
RESULTS: Our primary outcome was serum phosphate at 24 hours with a noninferiority margin of 0.2 mmol/L. Secondary outcomes included cost savings and environmental waste reduction and additional IV fluid administered. The modified intention-to-treat cohort comprised 131 patients. Baseline phosphate concentrations were similar between the two groups. At 24 hours, mean ( sd ) serum phosphate concentration were enteral 0.89 mmol/L (0.24 mmol/L) and IV 0.82 mmol/L (0.28 mmol/L). This difference was noninferior at the margin of 0.2 mmol/L (difference, 0.07 mmol/L; 95% CI, -0.02 to 0.17 mmol/L). When assigned IV replacement, patients received 408 mL (372 mL) of solvent IV fluid. Compared with IV replacement, the mean cost per patient was ten-fold less with enteral replacement ($3.7 [$4.0] vs. IV: $37.7 [$31.4]; difference = $34.0 [95% CI, $26.3-$41.7]) and weight of waste was less (7.7 g [8.3 g] vs. 217 g [169 g]; difference = 209 g [95% CI, 168-250 g]). C O2 emissions were 60-fold less for comparable phosphate replacement (enteral: 2 g producing 14.2 g and 20 mmol of potassium dihydrogen phosphate producing 843 g of C O2 equivalents).
CONCLUSIONS: Enteral phosphate replacement in ICU is noninferior to IV replacement at a margin of 0.2 mmol/L but leads to a substantial reduction in cost and waste.