Initiation of parenteral nutrition in critically ill patients

Retrospective cross-sectional single centre study was done to determine the current intensive treatment unit (ITU) practice on initiation of parenteral nutrition (PN) and to compare ITU practice with regards to PN against the standard agreed by the East of England critical care network of United Kingdom. All the patients who met the criteria and was admitted to the ITU of Luton and Dunstable University Hospital, United Kingdom from 1^st of October to 31^st December 2017 were included in the study.

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Out of the 100 patients in the study, only 10% were initiated on PN during the ITU stay. All those who received PN were at higher risk of malnutrition as assessed by the malnutrition universal screening tool (MUST) score. The mean days of ITU stay was 3.4 prior to initiating parenteral nutrition. The mean ITU stay of PN group was 8.7 days vs 4.47 in the other group. The ITU and hospital mortality was higher in PN group at 30% and 50%.