Nutrition therapy during critical illness has been a focus of recent research, with a rapid increase in publications accompanied by two updated international clinical guidelines. However, the translation of evidence into practice is challenging due to the continually evolving, often conflicting trial findings and guideline recommendations. This narrative review aims to provide a comprehensive synthesis and interpretation of the adult critical care nutrition literature, with a particular focus on continuing practice gaps and areas with new data, to assist clinicians in making practical, yet evidence-based decisions regarding nutrition management during the different stages of critical illness.
Introduction The development of bedside methods to assess muscularity is an essential critical care nutrition research priority. We aimed to compare ultrasound‐derived muscle thickness at 5 landmarks with computed tomography (CT) muscle area at intensive care unit (ICU) admission. Secondary aims were to (1) combine muscle thicknesses and baseline covariates to evaluate correlation with CT muscle area and (2) assess the ability of the best‐performing ultrasound model to identify patients with low CT muscle area. Methods Adult patients who underwent CT scanning at the third lumbar area <72 hours after ICU admission were prospectively recruited. Muscle thickness was measured at mid‐upper arm, forearm, abdomen, and thighs. Low CT muscle area was determined using published cutoffs. Pearson correlation compared ultrasound‐derived muscle thickness and CT muscle area. Linear regression was used to develop ultrasound prediction models. Bland‐Altman analyses compared ultrasound‐predicted and CT‐measured muscle area. Results Fifty ICU patients were enrolled, aged 52 ± 20 years. Ultrasound‐derived muscle thickness at each landmark correlated with CT muscle area (P < .001). The sum of muscle thickness at mid‐upper arm and bilateral thighs, including age, sex, and the Charlson Comorbidity Index, improved the correlation with CT muscle area (r = 0.85; P < .001). Mean difference between ultrasound‐predicted and CT‐measured muscle area was −2 cm2 (95% limits of agreement, −40 cm2 to +36 cm2). The best‐performing ultrasound model demonstrated good ability to identify 14 patients with low CT muscle area (area under curve = 0.79). Conclusion Ultrasound shows potential for assessing muscularity at ICU admission (Clinicaltrials.gov NCT03019913).
Introduction The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has overwhelmed hospital systems globally, resulting in less experienced staff caring for critically ill patients within the intensive care unit (ICU). Many guidelines have been developed to guide nutrition care. Aim To identify key guidelines or practice recommendations for nutrition support practices in critically ill adults admitted with COVID-19, to describe similarities and differences between recommendations, and to discuss implications for clinical practice. Methods A literature review was conducted to identify guidelines affiliated with or endorsed by international nutrition societies or dietetic associations which included recommendations for the nutritional management of critically ill adult patients with COVID-19. Data were extracted on pre-defined key aspects of nutritional care including nutrition prescription, delivery, monitoring and workforce recommendations, and key similarities and discrepancies, as well as implications for clinical practice were summarized. Results Ten clinical practice guidelines were identified. Similar recommendations included: the use of high protein, volume restricted enteral formula delivered gastrically and commenced early in ICU and introduced gradually, while taking into consideration non-nutritional calories to avoid overfeeding. Specific advice for patients in the prone position was common, and non-intubated patients were highlighted as a population at high nutritional risk. Major discrepancies included the use of indirect calorimetry to guide energy targets and advice around using gastric residual volumes (GRVs) to monitor feeding tolerance. Conclusion Overall, common recommendations around formula type and route of feeding exist, with major discrepancies being around the use of indirect calorimetry and GRVs, which reflect international ICU nutrition guidelines.
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