Nutritional Therapy in Trauma

Abstract

Organic response to trauma leads to a series of changes that culminate with an increase in catabolism, the depletion of nitrogen, and alterations in glucose and lipid metabolism, which are directly related to the intensity of trauma. The primary aim of nutritional therapy in trauma is to minimize this catabolism, avoid malnutrition, or, if the patient is already malnourished, to mitigate its effect on the healing process. Once the patient is over the immediate trauma and resuscitation is complete, the need for nutritional support should be determined immediately. The nutritional evaluation of the trauma patient is no different from that of any other surgical patient, and begins with a complete nutritional history, assessing the patient’s diet, and history of weight loss or weight gain.