[Nutrition Support Therapy in Critically Ill Patients]. / Ernährungstherapie des Intensivpatienten.

Nutritional therapy is an elemental component of intensive care treatment. Therapeutic goals are the enteral or parenteral provision of calories, protein, electrolytes, vitamins and trace elements. Pathophysiologically, metabolism in critical illness is characterized by a catabolic stress status. This results from an underlying systemic inflammatory response and is associated with increased rate of infections, multiple organ failure and unfavourable outcome. In this article, the principles and strategies of nutrition support therapy in critically ill patients are presented, based on current guidelines.

[Current Developments in Nutritional Therapy of Intensive Care Patients]. / Aktuelle Entwicklungen in der Ernährungstherapie von Intensivpatienten.

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.