The post ICU trajectory: Post acute and post ICU nutritional care

Area of Science:

• Critical Care Medicine
• Intensive Care Unit (ICU) Management
• Nutritional Support in Critical Illness

Background:

• Growing number of ICU survivors experience persistent physical and mental disabilities.
• Malnutrition is common in ICU patients, complicating nutritional support due to factors like respiratory support, dysphagia, and difficulty in determining energy/protein needs.
• ICU-acquired weakness is a significant concern impacting patient recovery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the challenges in nutritional support for ICU survivors.
• To emphasize the importance of recognizing and minimizing ICU-acquired weakness.
• To underscore the role of early physical activity in post-ICU recovery.

Main Methods:

• Review of nutritional challenges in ICU survivors.
• Discussion of indirect calorimetry for energy target determination.
• Emphasis on optimal protein intake and early physical activity protocols.

Main Results:

• Nutritional support is often impaired by limitations in oral intake.
• Accurate determination of energy and protein targets remains a challenge.
• Early physical activity is crucial for improving physical and cognitive outcomes.

Conclusions:

• Optimizing energy and protein intake, potentially guided by indirect calorimetry, is vital.
• Early implementation of physical activity is a pivotal strategy for mitigating ICU-acquired weakness and enhancing recovery.
• Addressing malnutrition and promoting early mobilization are essential for improving the long-term outcomes of ICU survivors.