Nutritional Support

The adequate and appropriate management of the nutritional needs of patients who have undergone major trauma has a significant impact on their clinical outcomes and quality of life. Yet, there is little understanding among clinicians on how this is best carried out. Globally, there is a substantial variation in the components, quantity, route, timing, and type of feeding. Recently, several guidelines have been proposed to manage the nutritional needs of patients who have undergone major trauma. Although there is no one defined protocol to be followed, guidance advocates for the assessment of caloric needs of patients on an individualised basis and create a bespoke protocol tailored to the patient. This is underpinned by the importance of multidisciplinary teams with a deep understanding of the various aspects of nutrition to drive the transition forwards.