Nutrition support in the morbidly obese, critically ill patient

Abstract

Nutrition support in the critically ill patient is challenging but is even more difficult in a morbidly obese patient. This case report chronicles the care of a 6-foot-tall, 256-kg male (body mass index 76.5 kg/m2) who spent over a month in the intensive care unit for respiratory failure, sepsis, and acute renal failure. Parenteral nutrition was provided throughout his critical care course. One of the major difficulties encountered was determining his nutritional needs. A hypocaloric nutritional regimen was used, along with moderate protein provisions. Numerous electrolyte imbalances occurred, including hypercalcemia that did not resolve by eliminating calcium from the parenteral nutrition solution. Enteral nutrition was desired but was not used initially because of a need for vasopressors, a diagnosis of pancreatitis, difficulty in documenting feeding tube placement because of diagnostic limitations secondary to the patient's large size, and concern about managing stools. Eventually, oral intake and supplemental enteral feeding were initiated. Nutrition support team members worked closely with the interdisciplinary care team to develop strategies to manage the nutritional problems related to his obesity. A discussion of the various nutritional issues encountered in the care of this patient is provided. Reasonable nutritional status was achieved, but this case reflects some of the challenges encountered in caring for the nutritional needs of select patient populations in clinical practice and the need for increased research and guidelines in this area.