Total Parenteral Nutrition In Postoperative Patients In Intensive Care Units

Abstract

Surgical nutrition is very important aspect in surgical field which can enhance the outcome of surgical procedures especially specific surgical conditions. Appropriate feeding of the surgical patient begins with accurate assessment of the patient's nutritional requirements.Unfortunately, this is not a simple task .however, The Harris-Benedict equation is perhaps the most commonly used method of estimating a patient's metabolic energy requirements. It calculates the estimated basal energy expenditure (BEE) in kcal/day. When nutrition support is decided, techniques of support include enteral (by mouth, transnasal, and tube enterostomy) and parenteral (central, peripheral) routes. It depends on type of patient, indication for Nutrition support. Although long the subject of debate and controversy, significant data now exists to support the use of enteral nutrition over total parenteral nutrition (TPN) in the care of the critically ill surgical patient. Every attempt should be made to feed patients enterally if the gastrointestinal tract is functional. All patients who are not expected to be on a full oral diet within 3 days should receive enteral nutrition. All patients who are not expected to be on normal nutrition within 3 days should receive PN within 24 to 48 h if EN is contraindicated or if they cannot tolerate EN.