Nutrition in Neurocritical Care

Medical nutrition therapy (MNT) should be thought of in all critically ill patients staying in the ICU for more than 48 h. This is especially true for patients in neurocritical ICUs. These ICUs comprise brain-injured patients [traumatic brain injury (TBI)], patients with cerebrovascular accidents (acute ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke, and subarachnoid hemorrhage), spinal cord injuries, or patients with nerve or muscle diseases. There is a paucity of research and evidence about the use of MNT in these sub-classes of patients, and at times, recommendations are made as extrapolation of evidence from general critically ill patients.