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Review
. 2020 Jul 19;24(1):447.
doi: 10.1186/s13054-020-03159-z.

Nutrition of the COVID-19 patient in the intensive care unit (ICU): a practical guidance

Ronan Thibault  1   2 , Philippe Seguin  3   4 , Fabienne Tamion  5 , Claude Pichard  6 , Pierre Singer  7
Affiliations
Review

Nutrition of the COVID-19 patient in the intensive care unit (ICU): a practical guidance

Ronan Thibault et al. Crit Care. .

Abstract

Five to 10% of the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2-infected patients, i.e., with new coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), are presenting with an acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) requiring urgent respiratory and hemodynamic support in the intensive care unit (ICU). However, nutrition is an important element of care. The nutritional assessment and the early nutritional care management of COVID-19 patients must be integrated into the overall therapeutic strategy. The international recommendations on nutrition in the ICU should be followed. Some specific issues about the nutrition of the COVID-19 patients in the ICU should be emphasized. We propose a flow chart and ten key issues for optimizing the nutrition management of COVID-19 patients in the ICU.

Keywords: Critical illness; Energy target; Enteral nutrition; Malnutrition; Protein target; SARS-Cov2 virus; Supplemental parenteral nutrition.

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Conflict of interest statement

Ronan Thibault received consulting and conference fees: Aguettant, Baxter, BBraun, Fresenius-Kabi, Nutricia, Roche; conference fees: Astra-Zeneca, Homeperf, Lactalis, Nestlé, Shire; designed and received royalties for the Simple Evaluation of Food Intake® (SEFI®) (Knoë, le Kremlin Bicêtre, France). Philippe Seguin and Fabienne Tamion declare no conflict of interest related to this article. Claude Pichard received financial support from research grants and unrestricted academic research grants from the public institutions, as well as no-restrictive research grants and consulting fees from the Foundation Nutrition 2000plus, Abbott, Baxter, B. Braun, Cosmed, Fresenius-Kabi, Nestle Medical Nutrition, Novartis, Nutricia – Numico, Pfizer, Shire, and Solvay. Pierre Singer received consulting and conference fees: Baxter, Fresenius Kabi, Cosmed, conference fees: Nestle, Nutricia, consulting fees: ART medical, and grants from Fresenius Kabi, ART medical, and B Braun.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Nutrition support protocol for the patient with COVID-19 in the intensive care unit. BMI, body mass index; BW, body weight; EN, enteral nutrition; ICU, intensive care unit; IV, intravenous; PN, parenteral nutrition
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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