title: Nutritional support in head injury.
abstract: Nutritional support is imperative to the recovery of head-injury patients. Hypermetabolism and hypercatabolism place this patient population at increased risk for weight loss, muscle wasting, and malnutrition. Nutrition management may be further complicated by alterations in gastrointestinal motility. Resting energy expenditure should be measured using indirect calorimetry and protein status measured using urine urea nitrogen. Providing early enteral nutrition within 72 hours of injury may decrease infection rates and overall complications. Establishing standards of practice and nutrition protocols will assure patients receive optimal nutrition assessment and intervention in a timely manner.
authors.affiliation: Division of Dietetics, Mayo Clinic Florida, Jacksonville, Florida, USA.
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vizzini
authors.forename: Jaime
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Aranda-Michel
mesh_terms: D002153:Calorimetry, Indirect; D006259:Craniocerebral Trauma / Q000628:therapy*; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D004750:Enteral Nutrition; D006801:Humans; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D009752:Nutritional Status; D018529:Nutritional Support