Nutritional support of the critically ill. Part I--Review.

Critically ill patients seen in an adult Intensive Care Unit often exhibit a hypermetabolic, hypercatabolic response to the stress of illness. The hypercatabolic response to trauma and sepsis is discussed in relation to macronutrient metabolism in this first of a two part article. The aim of nutrition therapy is provision of appropriate substrates to minimize the loss of lean body mass, without provoking additional metabolic stress. Selected topics in nutritional support are reviewed, with emphasis on current research and controversies in the care of the critically ill.