Medical Nutrition Therapy Essay

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Medical nutrition therapy and the critically ill
Abstract
Nutritional support was an often neglected but essential and crucial element in management of critically ill. The medical nutrition therapy is fast replacing the concept of supportive nutrition in critically ill patients. Adequate and proper nutrition therapy has the potential to positively impact patient outcomes and length of hospital stay. It is relatively inexpensive compared to other treatments, and is being increasingly identified as a marker of quality ICU care.

Key words: Enteral nutrition, parenteral nutrition, critically ill
Introduction
Nutritional support is recognized to be as an essential and crucial element in management of critically ill [1]. The importance of nutrition and its availability in intensive care unit is now improving with understanding of the pathophysiology of …show more content…

Modes of enteral nutrition

1. Nasogastric (NG): The most common route used in intensive care. Here a feeding tube in inserted into the stomach through the nostrils. Complications include malposition, nasal tissue erosion, sinusitis and is contraindicated in the patients with fracture of base of skull.
2. Orogastric: This route is used when NG is contraindicated, and to prevent sinusitis. It is tolerated well by the sedated patients but not in awake patients.
3. Nasojejunal (NJ) or Post pyloric: The feeding tube is placed in jejunum by passing the stomach. This prevents the risk of aspiration.
4. Enterostomy: Includes gastrostomy or jejunostomy- here feeding tube is inserted directly into stomach or jejunum either endoscopically or surgically and brought out through the peritoneal cavity. Complications include displacement or infection. It is often preferred in patients requiring nutritional support for more than a month.

Indication for enteral nutrition
If the patient has an inadequate or no oral intake of food for 1 - 3 days, then nutritional support by the enteral route is required.
The types of enteral

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