Metabolic Support of the Critically I11 Patient

Nutritional support of the critically ill patient is a major treatment modality which enhances recovery and shortens the time of convalescence. This study explores the importance of specific nutrients, nutrient combinations, the use of growth factors and other areas of metabolic support.

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The nutritional support of critically ill patients is a major treatment modality which should enhance recovery and shorten reconvalescence. New knowledge has emphasized that much of the organ dysfunction associated with sepsis and altered blood flow is related to oxidative injury. Specific nutrients are highly effective in counteracting these effects, and their early administration may attenuate cellular damage and multi-organ failure. Patient outcome may also be enhanced by the route of feeding, the administration of new nutrient combinations, the utilization of evolving methods of monitoring and the use of growth factors. This new knowledge has evolved to an area of metabolic support which is addressed by this study. The topics presented are of major importance to practitioners in this field, for they show, for the first time, a departure from the more traditional approaches of nutritional support in patients with life-threatening diseases.