Hypermetabolism in critical care: The role of metabolism measurement and its nutritional implications

Abstract

In recent years a key role has been assumed in all areas of critical care medicine by the accurate assessment of the patient's energy state. A definition of needs is crucial in responding adequately to the state of acute imbalance that almost all illnesses bring about. Nutrition in relation to the metabolism plays a key role in influencing prognosis and patient outcome. Criticality goes hand in hand with complex responses from the biochemical point of view. Knowing these and how exactly to define them is the topic of this brief chapter.