Nutrition in Critically Ill Children

Abstract

Nutritional management of the critically ill child (CIC) is a very specialist and challenging area in paediatric dietetic practice. In addition to minimising the effects of starvation associated with suboptimal nutrition and preventing nutritional deficiencies and excesses, its goal is to sustain organ function and prevent dysfunction of the cardiovascular, respiratory and immune systems until the acute-phase inflammatory response resolves. This chapter deals with nutrition in CIC, and focuses on the inflammatory and metabolic responses affecting nutritional requirements, nutritional assessment, and nutritional requirements, covering energy requirements, and requirements of protein, vitamins and minerals. The aim of nutritional support in CIC is to possibly minimise nutrient deficits and prevent a further decline in nutritional status. The chapter also highlights refeeding syndrome which is a complication that arises in CIC.