Enteral nutrition is an essential method for supporting the nutrition of patients receiving critical care. When a patient is experiencing critical illness or significant injury, meeting their nutrient needs naturally can be challenging. In this article, we will discuss the importance of enteral nutrition in managing patients with metabolic issues, severe hypermetabolism, catabolism and significant nutrient loss.

When to seek nutritional support?

When there is a risk of undernutrition, artificial nutrition should be introduced as soon as possible, even before the onset of nutritional disorders. In this context, the 7-day/7% rule is widely used. Artificial nutrition should be implemented in the following cases:

  • when the patient cannot eat naturally for 7 days or more;
  • when the patient has lost more than 7% of the recommended body mass.

Management should be continued until nutritional status stabilizes.

Enteral nutrition is a method of nutritional support that involves the use of a tube placed in the stomach or intestine to deliver essential nutrients to the body. The nutrients are delivered in liquid form using an enteral feeding pump.

It is indicated to ensure an adequate supply of nutrients in case of :

  • Injuries, burns, acute poisoning and catabolism;
  • Tumors (especially in the head, neck and stomach);
  • Central nervous system disorders (coma, stroke or Parkinson's disease);
  • Radiation and chemotherapy for cancer;
  • Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract (Crohn's disease, malabsorption syndrome, short bowel syndrome, chronic pancreatitis, ulcerative colitis, liver and biliary tract diseases);
  • Nutrition in the preoperative and early postoperative period;
  • Complications in the postoperative period (gastrointestinal tract fistulas, sepsis, failed sutures of anastomoses);
  • Infectious diseases ;
  • Mental disorders (anorexia nervosa or severe depression);
  • Acute and chronic radiation injuries.

Enteral nutrition is possible when the patient's digestive tract remains functional.

Nutrition in intensive care

Why is enteral nutrition important for critical care patients?

Critical care patients are often in a state of high metabolic stress, which can lead to malnutrition and rapid weight loss. Nutritional intake is crucial to support immune function, wound healing and reduction of complications.

Here are some reasons why enteral nutrition is crucial for critical care patients.

1- Maintain an adequate diet

Critical care patients frequently have difficulty eating and digesting solid foods. Enteral feeding provides adequate nutrition and supports healing, wound healing and tissue regeneration.

2- Reduce complications

Malnutrition in critical care patients can lead to complications, such as:

  • infections;
  • muscle deterioration;
  • decreased immune function;
  • a decrease in respiratory function.

Enteral nutrition can help reduce these complications by providing the nutrients needed to promote healing.

3- Reduce the length of hospitalization

Enteral nutrition is more physiological than parenteral nutrition. It can help reduce the length of hospitalization by favoring patient recovery and limiting complications. In addition, it prevents the development of atrophic processes in the gastrointestinal tract.

4- Lowering the cost of care

Enteral nutrition is also more economical than parenteral nutrition. It does not require compliance with strict sterility conditions and allows the body to be supplied with the necessary substrates to a greater extent. In addition, it can be administered at home, when the patient is no longer in intensive care. This reduces the costs associated with hospital care and physician visits.

In conclusion, enteral nutrition is essential for intensive care patients to maintain adequate nutrition, reduce complications, improve recovery, and reduce length of hospitalization.

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