Early Enteral Nutrition in Aeromedically Evacuated Critically Ill/Injured Patients With a Resultant Validation Algorithm for the Theater Validating Flight Surgeon.

Introduction: Early enteral feeding in critically ill/injured patients promotes gut integrity and immunocompetence and reduces infections and intensive care unit/hospital stays. Aeromedical evacuation (AE) often takes place concurrently. As a result, AE and early enteral feeding should be inseparable.