A study was conducted about a prolonged stay in ICU on an elderly patient who had history of hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, heavy intake of alcohol and mild cognitive impairment after a Hartmann’s procedure for perforated sigmoid colon. He was in septic shock, so kept in mechanical ventilation with low tidal volume protocol with PEEP. Arterial blood pressure was supported with a norepinephrine and analgesia with morphine infusion. He was on enteral nutrition from the day after ICU admission and target intake achieved on the 6th day. Parenteral nutrition was not given.
On this matter, some suggested that parenteral nutrition should have been initiated as soon as possible and some agreed on enteral nutrition as was done. What is your opinion about the nutrition? The patient seems to have a prolonged stay in the ICU, what measures would you suggest to optimize the recovery?
