Nutritional support of the critically ill. Part II--Guidelines for clinical dietitians.

Abstract

The second of a two part article, this section focuses on aspects of dietetic practice in a general adult Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Current recommendations for nutritional support are briefly outlined. Techniques of nutritional assessment and monitoring of nutritional support are reviewed, with a case study example taken from actual practice in the ICU at the University of Alberta Hospitals. The results of an audit of nutritional support in ICU patients at the University of Alberta Hospitals are presented. The audit provided documentation of the benefits of expanded dietitian involvement in the nutritional care of adult ICU patients.