Current Developments in Nutritional Therapy of Intensive Care Patients

The goals of nutritional therapy for critically ill patients are the enteral or parenteral provision of calories, proteins, electrolytes, vitamins, trace elements and fluids. The metabolism of critically ill patients is characterized by a catabolic stress condition, which is caused by a systemic inflammatory response and is associated with an increased infection rate, occurrence of multiple organ failure and increased mortality. Traditionally, nutritional therapy has been considered as an adjunctive therapy for critically ill patients with the primary goal of providing energy to maintain muscle mass. Based on the scientific developments of recent years, it became evident that adequate nutritional therapy can favorably influence stress-related metabolic processes, reduce oxidative cell damage and modulate the immune response of the body. Important measures that can positively influence the clinical course of intensive care patients include early enteral nutrition, adequate intake of macro- and micronutrients, and blood glucose control. © Georg Thieme Verlag KG, Stuttgart. New York.