Expanding the knowledge base in diet, nutrition and critical care: Electronic and published resources

Fawaz Alzaid, Rajkumar Rajendram, Vinood B. Patel, Victor Preedy

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterpeer-review

10 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The critical care ward manages the needs of the highest dependency patients, the majority of whom are malnourished. Malnutrition could have been preexistent and compounded by critical illness or may have arisen due to acute disease effects. The appropriate identification and management of malnutrition in the critical care unit will have a major influence on the clinical outcome. The importance of appropriate nutritional support has become increasingly recognized in the last few decades. In fact, in some regions, the inclusion of appropriate nutritional support is essential for the accreditation of healthcare establishments. The first line of nutritional support is the identification of malnutrition, followed by in-depth assessment if required. These processes will indicate the risk of malnutrition, the need for nutritional support, the constituents of feed, and the mode of delivery, whether via oral, enteral, or parenteral feeding. At the very least, nutritional support in the critical care unit aims to maintain hydration and protein-energy balance and prevent or minimize the catabolic effects of critical illness. Some decisions are based on pragmatism, whereas others are based on evidence, experience, available resources, or locally agreed policies from regional authoritative bodies. This chapter discusses the essential and central role of nutritional support in the critical care unit. A list of important resources that advise nutritional support in critical care is also highlighted in this chapter.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationDiet and Nutrition in Critical Care
PublisherSpringer New York LLC
Pages1193-1199
Number of pages7
ISBN (Print)9781461478362, 9781461478379
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 2015

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