Refeeding in pediatric intensive care unit

Abstract

Denutrition is a frequent issue in the paediatric intensive care unit (ICU). Features are specific in relation to the child’s growth. Requirements of critically ill children cannot be adapted from energetic needs of adult or sane children. Recent studies demonstrated that caloric requirements of ICU children are lower than those in healthy children despite normal protein needs. Indirect calorimetry should help precise monitoring of caloric requirements in critically ill children to limit the risk of overfeeding syndrome. In the presence of functional digestive tract, enteral feeding should be preferred due to its better tolerance and less frequent infectious complications.