Immunonutrition in Surgery and Critical Care

• Published in: Annual review of nutrition Vol. 26; pp. 463 - 479
• Main Author: Kudsk, K.A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.01.2006
• Subjects: Amino Acids, Branched-Chain - administration & dosage; arginine; Arginine - administration & dosage; beta-carotene; branched chain amino acids; clinical nutrition; Critical Care; critical illness; Critical Illness - therapy; Enteral Nutrition; Evidence-Based Medicine; Fatty Acids, Omega-3 - administration & dosage; fish oils; Food, Formulated; fortified foods; glutamine; Glutamine - administration & dosage; Humans; immunity; Immunity, Innate; literature reviews; nucleotides; Nucleotides - administration & dosage; nutrient requirements; nutritional intervention; omega-3 fatty acids; optimal nutrition; patient care; postoperative care; protein supplements; surgery; Treatment Outcome; tube feeding
• ISSN: 0199-9885; 1545-4312
• DOI: 10.1146/annurev.nutr.26.061505.111230

The benefits of specialty supplemented enteral diets administered to critically ill and critically injured patients and those undergoing major surgical procedures have been documented in a number of randomized prospective studies. It is unclear which nutrient or combination of nutrients causes the beneficial effects, but there are significant reductions in infectious complications depending upon the patient populations studied. It is imperative that the data be interpreted in the context of individual patient risk since specialty formulas appear most beneficial in patients at risk of subsequent complications or in those with significant pre-existing malnutrition. Although controversy exists regarding the use of specialty supplemented enteral diets in critically ill patients, they have been administered safely with minimal risk of adverse outcome in malnourished patients and in the critically ill and critically injured.