Nutrición Enteral en las Unidades de Cuidados Intensivos

Abstract

Enteral Nutrition (EN) attemps to maintain and improve organic functioning, the evolution, the time spent in the hospital and to prevent the caloric-protein desnutrition and its negative effects, preserving tissues and diminishing endogenous nutrient stores. It is ussually used in critical care units because of being an effective method and a certain way to nourish critical patients. Methods: Review describing the main EN instructions according to the underlying pathology. Content: Most frequent pathologies: Cardiac pathology: Prevails cardiac cachexia secondary to surgery complications. Neurological pathology: Present an intense catabolism, it requires early nutritional support beginning. Septicemia: early use of EN permits to prevent secondary complications like infections or multiorganic fail. Multiple enjuries: Serious damages produce a large metabolic stress, which implies a serious malnutrition risk. They present hypermetabolism and hyercatabolism so it is very important in the treatment. Respiratory pathology: Nutritional support might be normocaloric or discreetly hypocaloric. Micronutrients must be considered by the effects of them in ventilatory function. Conclusions: The EN election could influence in a positive way in patients evolution. We must keep in mind that this election can reduce the infection´s incidence, decrease critical care units staying and a less mortality among other things.