Category: Critical care medicine

Studies indicate that for many critically ill patients, providing fewer calories than traditionally recommended may lead to better health outcomes. Permissive underfeeding is a medical approach that intentionally delivers reduced caloric intake during the initial phases of critical illness to help manage the body's metabolic response.

While severe volume loss typically causes hypernatremia alone, this electrolyte disorder can occur concurrently with metabolic acidosis. This complex co-occurrence often indicates an intricate fluid and electrolyte imbalance requiring careful medical evaluation and management.

Critically ill patients often face a significant risk of malnutrition, which can occur in up to 40% of cases and worsen clinical outcomes. In the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), a specialized nutritional approach called trophic feeding is sometimes utilized to stimulate the gastrointestinal tract and mitigate risks associated with severe illness.

Hypomagnesemia is a common and often underestimated complication, affecting a significant portion of ICU patients and carrying a higher risk of mortality. This fact underscores the indispensable role of magnesium in critical care, where maintaining electrolyte balance is paramount for patient stability and recovery.

Most international critical care guidelines recommend initiating enteral nutrition within 24–48 hours of admission. Determining when to start tube feeding in ICU is a critical decision influenced by patient stability, gut function, and specific clinical conditions, balancing the benefits of early nutrition against potential risks.