Enteral and parenteral nutrition for critically ill patients: A logical combination to optimize nutritional support

SummaryMalnutrition is a common and serious problem in intensive care units. Negative energy balance has been associated with increased morbidity and mortality in critically ill patients. The increased incidence of complications attributable to malnutrition correlates with increased length of hospital stay and overall health care costs. Although early enteral nutrition is the preferred method of feeding critically ill patients, enteral nutrition alone often fails to supply adequate calories and nutrients to critically ill patients, who are frequently hypermetabolic. Supplementation of insufficient enteral nutrition with parenteral nutrition may optimize nutritional support and avert negative energy balance in critically ill patients, thereby improving outcomes.