Nutrition in the ICU
The Alfred Nutrition Department is a lead Australian site for a multicentre, randomised, controlled trial (RCT) investigating the role of supplemental parenteral nutrition in critically ill adults hospitalised in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
The study aims to assess whether supplemental parenteral nutrition delivers increased amounts of energy to ICU patients with either a confirmed or a high likelihood of enteral nutrition insufficiency (without significant adverse effects) compared to a standard enteral nutrition strategy.
Secondary outcomes include clinical and functional outcomes. Recruitment was completed in January 2016 and data analysis is under way. In 2015, Emily Dynon commenced recruitment for a study investigating energy requirements in critically ill obese patients hospitalised in the ICU.
Patients enrolled in the study (n = 16) were randomised to either standard nutrition care or goaldirected nutrition management using indirect calorimetry to guide nutrition therapy. Recruitment will continue in 2016.
Dr Audrey Tierney and Oana Tatucu are investigating the degree and location of intestinal permeability changes in critically ill adult patients in comparison to healthy controls. A prospective case control pilot study measuring intestinal permeability has recruited 16 patients with the aim of completing the recruitment of 20-30 participants by June 2016.