Half-elemental Nutrition Mixtures for Enteral Nutrition of Children in Critical Conditions: Features of Usage and Economic Efficiency

Abstract

Enteral (tube) nutrition has demonstrated its superiority in comparison with parenteral nutrition for patients with a preserved function of gastrointestinal tract who are in intensive care units, or ICU, and who cannot eat or are not allowed to eat by medical indications. International guidelines recommend enteral injections of mixtures for patients in critical conditions in need of nutritial support. The first twenty-four hour is considered the optimal period for starting nutritional support. It is known that costs of the enteral nutrition are much lower than costs of intravascular supply for patients who are in the ICU. The usage of special-purpose dietary products — half-elemental mixtures with high energy density — is the most physiological for children in ICU from 1 year and for adults in critical conditions.

Keywords

• acute intestinal failure
• malabsorption
• early enteral nutrition
• intensive care unit