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Aid to Enteral Feeding in Critical Care: Algorithm

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Diet and Nutrition in Critical Care

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Abstract

Algorithms originated in mathematics and form the basis of computer science. They have applications across a wide range of fields including health care. Critical care units have embraced use of algorithms due to the need to make rapid decisions using a large and disparate array of information. Feeding algorithms used in critical care are also referred to as nutrition support protocols. Their use has been demonstrated to improve nutritional intake as well as improving primary outcomes such as mortality and length of stay.

Earlier forms of nutrition support protocols relate to feeding processes such as initiation of feeding, feeding mode, and feeding intolerance. Later, feeding algorithms have incorporated selection of enteral feed and target feeding rate. It is essential that these algorithms are updated in line with evidence-based guidelines. Increasing use of algorithms and computerization will improve the accuracy of data collection and interpretations made from emerging research.

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Abbreviations

ABW:

Actual Body Weight

AdjBW:

Adjusted Body Weight

ANZICS CTG:

Australian and New Zealand Intensive Care Society Clinical Trials Group

ASPEN:

American Society of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition

BMI:

Body Mass Index

BW:

Body Weight

CCPG:

Canadian Critical Care Practice Guidelines

EN:

Enteral Nutrition

ESPEN:

European Society of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition

GFR:

Glomerular Filtration Rate

GRV:

Gastric Residual Volume

IBW:

Ideal Body Weight

ICU:

Intensive Care Unit

PN:

Parenteral Nutrition

SCCM:

Society of Critical Care Medicine

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Nutrition and Dietetic Department, Logan Hospital, Meadowbrook, 4131, Australia

    Anneli Reeves

  2. Nutrition and Dietetic Department, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland

    Caroline Kiss

  3. Intensive Care, Logan Hospital, Meadowbrook, 4131, Australia

    Hayden White

  4. Nutrition and Dietetic Department, Logan Hospital, Meadowbrook, 4131, Australia

    Kellie Sosnowski & Christine Josephson

Authors
  1. Anneli Reeves
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  2. Caroline Kiss
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  3. Hayden White
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  4. Kellie Sosnowski
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  5. Christine Josephson
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Anneli Reeves .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Nutrition, King's College London, London, United Kingdom

    Rajkumar Rajendram

  2. School of Medicine, King's College London, London, United Kingdom

    Victor R. Preedy

  3. Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Westminster, London, United Kingdom

    Vinood B. Patel

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Reeves, A., Kiss, C., White, H., Sosnowski, K., Josephson, C. (2014). Aid to Enteral Feeding in Critical Care: Algorithm. In: Rajendram, R., Preedy, V., Patel, V. (eds) Diet and Nutrition in Critical Care. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-8503-2_46-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-8503-2_46-1

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