RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Incorporating ultrasonography to the nutritional assessment process in intensive care settings to improve the prescription of enteral and parenteral nutrition
JF Saudi Medical Journal
JO Saudi Med J
FD Prince Sultan Military Medical City
SP 653
OP 657
DO 10.15537/smj.2024.45.7.20240082
VO 45
IS 7
A1 Zaher, Sara
YR 2024
UL http://smj.org.sa/content/45/7/653.abstract
AB The validity of the traditional nutritional assessment tools in intensive care settings might be compromised when the patient has conditions such as oedema and inflammation. Ultrasound (US) is considered a non-invasive, bedside tool that can be utilized to assess changes in muscle mass. Hence, US could guide healthcare practitioners in identifying the varying degrees of malnutrition and adjusting the nutritional prescription accordingly. This review discusses the currently available data regarding the feasibility and practicality of using US measurements in intensive care settings. Overall, the data suggest that using US as part of the standard anthropometric assessment for critically ill patients is a promising tool to track variations in muscle mass. This has the potential to enhance nutritional prescription and tailor the provision of protein and energy to critically ill patients based on their lean body mass measurements. Therefore, it is recommended to train dietitians on utilizing US for body composition measurements.