Energy deficit and length of hospital stay can be reduced by a two-step quality improvement of nutrition therapy: the intensive care unit dietitian can make the difference.

Objective: Critically ill patients are at high risk of malnutrition. Insufficient nutritional support still remains a widespread problem despite guidelines. The aim of this study was to measure the clinical impact of a two-step interdisciplinary quality nutrition program.

[Implementing a feeding protocol in an adult ICU (NUTSIA): success and pitfalls].

Nutritional support is an essential part of ICU care. Evidence based guidelines have been developed in countries such as Canada, but their implementation is not easy. After analysing our department and observing insufficiencies in nutritional support, a multidisciplinary working group was set up.

[Short bowel syndrome: nutritional guidelines for the adult patient].

The short bowel is defined by the extended resection of the small intestine, leaving a maximum of 100 cm of healthy organ beyond the ligament of Treitz, with or without preservation of the colon. Nutritional management must be quick in order to optimize adaptation of the remaining intestine, therefore avoiding intestinal insufficiency. Consequent nutrition support such as long term enteral or parental nutrition is some times indispensable.