Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 26, 2026

Use of a Central Venous Line for Fluids, Drugs and Nutrient Administration in a Mouse Model of Critical Illness
Published on: May 2, 2017
[Nutrition and health--enteral nutrition in intensive care patients]
F M van Haren1, H M Oudemans-van Straaten, E M Mathus-Vliegen
1VieCuri Medisch Centrum voor Noord-Limburg, afd. Intensive Care, Postbus 1926, 5900 BX Venlo. fvanharen@mac.com
Abstract:
Nutritional therapy in the intensive care unit exerts favourable effects on morbidity and mortality. Enteral nutrition is preferable to parenteral nutrition. Only perforation or total obstruction of the gastrointestinal tract, proven mesenteric ischaemia and toxic megacolon are absolute contra-indications to enteral nutrition. Early enteral nutrition is effective in decreasing infectious complications and reducing the length of stay in the hospital. Nutrition that is enriched with specific ingredients in order to modulate the immune response is referred to as immunonutrition. The use of immunonutrition, notably in surgical intensive care patients, has a favourable effect on the incidence of infectious complications, the duration of artificial respiration and the length of hospital stay. The addition of glutamine to parenteral nutrition may reduce mortality compared to standard parenteral nutrition. Implementation of a simple feeding algorithm in the intensive care unit, with special attention for the treatment of delayed gastric emptying, is cost-effective and leads to an improvement in the nutritional parameters.
Related Concept Videos
Endotracheal Intubation II: Nursing Management
1. Nursing Care of Patients Before Intubation
Before the endotracheal intubation procedure, nurses play an essential role in ensuring the process goes smoothly. The nurses must be familiar with intubation...
Inflammatory Bowel Disease III: Diagnostic Studies and Management I-Nutritional Therapy
Diagnostic studies
A colonoscopy is the definitive screening test, distinguishing ulcerative colitis from other colon diseases with similar symptoms. During a colonoscopy test, inflamed mucosa with exudate ulcerations can be observed, and biopsies are taken to determine the histologic characteristics of the colonic...
Enteral Nutrition I: Orogastric and Nasogastric Feeding
Orogastric (OG) and nasogastric (NG) feeding are two standard methods used for enteral nutrition. Enteral nutrition is often preferred over...
Enteral Nutrition II: Nasointestinal and Gastrostomy Feeding
Nasointestinal Feeding
Nasointestinal feeding involves placing a tube through...
Parentral Nutrition: Centeral and Peripheral Parental Nutrition
PN can be administered through two primary routes:
1. Central Parenteral Nutrition (CPN):
CPN involves delivering a high concentration of nutrients through a large vein. This is typically achieved using a Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter (PICC) or,...
Chronic Kidney Disease III: Interprofessional Care
