title: Early nutritional support in critical illness is important.
abstract: The hypermetabolic state in critically ill patients is characterized by wasting of lean body mass and immunosuppression. The gut is among the most metabolically active organs. Failure to maintain gut function by way of early enteral nutrition can lead to increased infectious complications. Early enteral nutrition improves outcomes and may maintain muscle mass by blunting the cytokine-mediated hypermetabolic response.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Rochester, School of Medicine and Dentistry, New York, USA.
authors.forename: H C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Sax
mesh_terms: D003422:Critical Care; D016638:Critical Illness / Q000628:therapy*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D005973:Glutamine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D007902:Length of Stay; D018529:Nutritional Support / Q000379:methods; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D005973:Glutamine