The use of early enteral nutrition in abdominal trauma

Patients who sustain abdominal trauma become hypermetabolic and require aggressive utilization of early enteral nutrition. The purpose of this article is to discuss the physiology of the gut as it relates to the development of septic sequelae and the role of early enteral nutrition in decreasing septic complications based upon the findings of previously published research. The research clearly supports that there are many benefits associated with the initiation of early enteral nutrition in this patient population.