Critical care nutrition

Critical care nutrition involves providing specialized nutritional support to patients who are severely ill or injured in the intensive care unit (ICU). Proper nutrition helps maintain body functions, supports immune health, promotes healing, and reduces complications. It can be delivered through feeding tubes or intravenous lines when patients cannot eat normally. Tailored nutrition plans consider individual needs, including calories, proteins, vitamins, and minerals. Effective critical care nutrition is essential for recovery, improving outcomes, and shortening ICU stays. It requires careful assessment by healthcare teams to ensure patients receive the right balance of nutrients during their critical illness.