Tag: Icu diet

Malnutrition is common in critically ill patients, especially those on mechanical ventilation, and can worsen clinical outcomes. Knowing if you can eat with mechanical ventilation and how nutrients are delivered is crucial for understanding patient care and recovery.

An alarming number of patients in the intensive care unit (ICU), ranging from 38% to 78% worldwide, suffer from malnutrition, which is linked to worse outcomes. For these patients, selecting the best route of feeding during critical illness is a pivotal clinical decision that directly impacts recovery, complication rates, and survival.

Approximately 12,000 to 14,000 Americans are diagnosed with a new, non-traumatic coma each year. Because a person in a coma cannot eat or drink on their own, specialized medical procedures are used to provide nutrients and hydration, addressing the critical question: what do people in comas eat?.