Nutrition in the critically ill surgical patient

The aim of this study was to discuss recent findings related to providing adequate and well tolerated nutrition to the critically ill surgical patient.

The majority of nutritional studies in the critically ill have been performed on well nourished patients, but validated scoring systems can now identify high nutrition risk patients. Although it remains well accepted that early enteral nutrition with protein supplementation is key, mechanistic data suggest that hypocaloric feeding in septic patients may be beneficial. For critically ill patients unable to tolerate enteral nutrition, randomized pilot data demonstrate improved functional outcomes with early supplemental parenteral nutrition. Current guidelines also recommend early total parenteral nutrition in high nutrition risk patients with contraindications to enteral nutrition. When critically ill patients require low or moderate-dose vasopressors, enteral feeding appears well tolerated based on a large database study, while randomized prospective data showed worse outcomes in patients receiving high-dose vasopressors.

Current evidence suggests early enteral nutrition with protein supplementation in critically ill surgical patients with consideration of early parenteral nutrition in high nutrition risk patients unable to achieve nutrition goals enterally. Despite established guidelines for nutritional therapy, the paucity of data to support these recommendations illustrates the critical need for additional studies.