title: [Enteral feeding of critical patients].
abstract: Artificial nutrition support forms part of the basic care of critical patients. Enteral feeding has been shown to be better than total parenteral nutrition at improving morbidity (infectious complications) and reducing the length of hospital stays, number of days with mechanical ventilation, and costs. As with any other treatment, enteral feeding has associated complications and side effects which should be understood and treated in order to obtain the greatest benefit from it and reduce possible adverse effects. In this review, we attempt to provide a practical summary of the use of enteral feeding in critical patients. We cover the management of the most frequent associated complications, based on new studies and current scientific evidence. The review is intended to serve as a practice guide for the routine care of severely ill patients.
authors.affiliation: Area de Anestesiología y Reanimación, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Albacete. mgomezgarrido@ono.com
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gómez-Garrido
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Martínez González
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Botella Romero
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gómez-Garrido
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D058186:Acute Kidney Injury / Q000628:therapy; D002153:Calorimetry, Indirect; D000075202:Contraindications; D003422:Critical Care / Q000379:methods*; D004750:Enteral Nutrition / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D005526:Food, Formulated / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System / Q000187:drug effects; D007583:Jejunum; D017093:Liver Failure / Q000628:therapy; D009751:Nutritional Requirements; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000628:therapy; D011015:Pneumonia, Aspiration / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D018805:Sepsis / Q000628:therapy; D013270:Stomach; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000628:therapy