title: Does artificial nutrition improve outcome of critical illness? An alternative viewpoint!
abstract: Recent studies challenge the beneficial role of artificial nutrition provided to critically ill patients and point out the limitations of existing studies in this area. We take a differing view of the existing data and refute many of the arguments put forward by previous authors. We review the mechanistic, observational, and experimental data supporting a role for early enteral nutrition in the critically ill patient. We conclude without question that more, high-quality research is needed to better define the role of artificial nutrition in the critical care setting, but until then early and adequate delivery of enteral nutrition is a legitimate, evidence-based treatment recommendation and we see no evidence-based role for restricting enteral nutrition in critically ill patients. The role of early supplemental parenteral nutrition continues to be defined as new data emerge.
authors.forename: Daren K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Heyland
authors.forename: Paul E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Wischmeyer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016638:Critical Illness / Q000628:therapy*; D002149:Energy Intake / Q000502:physiology*; D004750:Enteral Nutrition / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D009752:Nutritional Status / Q000502:physiology; D010288:Parenteral Nutrition / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic / Q000379:methods