Early enteral nutrition in the critically ill

To date early enteral nutrition has gained increasing popularity as a result of its potential favourable effects on the host's immune response, the maintenance of gut integrity and of course its lower costs. Nevertheless, some important obstacles, such as high gastric residuals, constipation, abdominal distension as well as careless prescription, may impair adequate enteral feeding. However, by using a feeding protocol, postpyloric multilumen feeding tubes and prokinetics in virtually all patients early enteral feeding is possible.