Early Nutrition and Early Mobilization: Why They Are Important and How to Make It Happen

Abstract

This chapter will be subdivided into a first section regarding the theoretical basis behind early nutrition and early ambulation within the overall setting of an enhanced recovery program. Here it may be useful to consider some definitions: an enhanced recovery protocol involves sets of clinical instructions (orders, written, or electronic) that embody the components of evidence-based enhanced recovery research. An enhanced recovery program requires education of patients, nurses, and doctors, who need to be able to amend order sets to take into account how each individual upon whom we operate responds. These are not recipes. The latter half of the chapter will discuss practical, common sense measures that have worked in busy clinical practice settings to achieve these aims.