Vitamin D Loading dose (100K IU daily, 14 days) great benefit if severe traumatic lung contusion
Effect of vitamin D as Nutrition Supplement on Patients with Prolonged Ventilation due to Ventilator Associated Pneumonia and Sepsis Followed Severe Traumatic Lung Contusion: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Clinical Trial Clin Ter. 2026 Jan-Feb;177(1):65-73. doi: 10.7417/CT.2026.1976 Eqypt
Background: Recent studies have shown that vitamin D deficiency is highly prevalent among critically ill patients, with reported rates ranging from 40% to 80% in ICU cohorts. Its deficiency associated with increased risk for respiratory infections, prolonged ventilation and increased length of stay, and mortality.
Objective: The primary objective was to evaluate the effect of high-dose vitamin D supplementation on recovery from severe traumatic lung contusion, VAP, and sepsis. The secondary objectives were to assess its impact on duration of mechanical ventilation, length of ICU stay, and mortality.
Methods: This prospective, double-blinded randomized controlled trial included 80 adult ICU patients with severe traumatic lung contusion who remained mechanically ventilated for 10 consecutive days and subsequently developed VAP and sepsis (Murray score >4, CPIS >6, SOFA score > 10, excluding GCS). Patients were randomized to receive either standard enteral nutrition (Group A, n=40) or standard nutrition plus high-dose vitamin D (cholecalciferol 100,000 IU/day for 14 days) (Group B, n=40). Clinical outcomes were assessed over a 14-day follow-up period.
Results: Compared with Group A, patients in Group B demonstrated significantly faster recovery from lung contusion, VAP, and sepsis, reflected by lower Murray, CPIS, and SOFA scores at both week 1 and week 2 (p<0.05). Group B also showed significantly shorter durations of mechanical ventilation and ICU stay (p<0.001) and a lower mortality rate (10.0% vs. 27.5%, p=0.045).
Conclusion: This study clarifies the effect of vitamin D in controlling all clinical manifestation of severe traumatic lung contusion, controlling all clinical manifestation of VAP, controlling all clinical manifestation of sepsis, accelerate weaning from ventilation, shorten the duration of ICU stay and decreasing the mortality rate of those patients who had sever traumatic lung contusion and ventilated for ten days, then complicated by VAP and sepsis as complications from prolonged ventilation. PDF
Definition of Severe traumatic lung contusion
A serious bruise of the lung tissue from chest trauma that causes extensive bleeding and swelling in the lung, leading to impaired gas exchange, hypoxia, respiratory distress, and potentially life‑threatening respiratory failure.
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