| Critical illness is mostly defined as a life-threatening process
affecting numerous systems of the body [1]. Unfortunately, despite
all implemented strategies, critical illness could be associated with
significant morbidity or mortality [2,3]. Although the early signs of
critical illness are commonly neglected, a period of physiological
weakening usually heralds the situation. Very clinical staff and even
visitors play a pivotal role throughout appropriate assessment and
intervention steps [4].
Muscle weakness in the critically-ill, as a major complication in
ICUs, is associated with increased length of ICU stay and mortality.
It has recently been suggested that substantial macronutrient deficit
at early stages of the critical illness does not necessarily affect muscle
wasting [5]. Numerous variables could directly contribute to the
muscle weakness of the critically-ill patients following Neuromuscular
Blocking Drugs (NMBDs) administration including the dosage,
administration method (intermittent vs. bolus) and duration and also
the approaches used for monitoring neuromuscular block depth. The
latter seems to be inevitable, especially in the critically-ill patients, in
order to guide the proper administration of drugs, avoid overdosing,
maintain muscle activity and detect reactions among concomitant
medications or pathophysiologic changes [6]. Based on the recent
guidelines NMBDs are recommend to be used in critically-ill patients
only when absolutely necessary, the depth of muscle paralysis be
monitored to avoid overdosing and metabolite accumulation, and that
drug administration be curtailed periodically to allow interruption of
sustained NMBDs effect [7].
Furthermore, late parenteral regimen has also been suggested to be
considered as a model of caloric restriction which would be associated
with the elimination of damaged organelles [8]. However, it should
be taken into consideration that insulin resistance in the criticallyill
patients results in an unavoidable increase in glucose production,
up to 1500 kcal/day in acute phase after injury. Therefore, the caloric
debt during the acute phase of critical illness should no longer be
calculated as the difference between energy expenditure and caloric
intake but rather as the difference between energy expenditure and
the sum of (endogenous+exogenous) calories [9]. Consequently,
it seems that early parenteral nutrition without considering the
mentioned pathophysiologic changes could result in overfeeding
and its complications in other organs. Hence, prior to considering
supplemental parenteral nutrition in patients with insufficient intake,
optimization of the tolerance to ideal feeding is recommended. |