Guidelines for Provision of Nutrition in Critically Ill Patients

Abstract

Nutritional therapy is a vital part in management of critically ill patients as feeding provide nutrients needed for repair and healing of wounds, attenuate the metabolic response to stress, prevent oxidative cellular injury, maintain homeostasis, reduce disease severity and its complications, favorably impact patient outcomes (reduce hospital length of stay, morbidity and mortality), modulate immune responses and protect vital organs. Manifestations of metabolic syndrome of critical illness include; weight gain, mostly water, body protein stores are consumed by proteolysis, resulting in a substantial loss of lean body mass, fatty tissue also is consumed by lipolysis, but consumption is much less than that of protein, hyperglycemia, disturbed hormonal and organ function especially brain and cardiovascular system and electrolytes abnormalities. With recovery, a prolonged anabolic phase slowly repletes protein stores, especially in muscle. Upon admission, ICU patients should be evaluated for the risk of malnutrition and the caloric and nutrient needs. The shape and regimen of the patient’s nutrition