Why patients in critical care do not receive adequate enteral nutrition? A review of the literature

Enteral nutrition is frequently used to provide nutrients for critically ill patients. However, only about half of critically ill enterally fed patients receive their energy requirements. Underfeeding is associated with detrimental clinical outcomes including infection, pressure ulcers, impaired wound healing, prolonged hospital stays, and increased morbidity and mortality. This literature review was conducted to identify major barriers to adequate enteral nutrition intake in critically ill adults and to identify gaps in the research literature. Studies (n = 30) reviewed addressed adult patients in critical care, published since 1999, and written in English. Findings showed that factors that explain inadequate enteral nutritional intake include delayed initiation of enteral nutrition and slow advancement of infusion rate, underprescription, incomplete delivery of prescribed nutrition, and frequent interruption of enteral nutrition. Frequent interruption was caused by diagnostic tests, surgical procedures, gastrointestinal intolerance, feeding tube problems, and routine nursing procedures. There are no standardized protocols that address these barriers to receiving adequate enteral intake. Such protocols must be developed, implemented, and tested to address undernutrition and mitigate the negative consequences of inadequate enteral intake.