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Yanamaladoddi V, D’Cunha H, Charley E, Kumar V, Sohal A, Youssef W. Early enteral nutrition in critically-ill patients. World J Crit Care Med 2025; 14(3): 102834 [PMID: 40880557 DOI: 10.5492/wjccm.v14.i3.102834]
Vishnu Yanamaladoddi, Hannah D’Cunha, Internal Medicine, Creighton University School of Medicine, Phoenix, AZ 85012, United States
Ericka Charley, Vikash Kumar, Aalam Sohal, Wael Youssef, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Creighton University School of Medicine, Phoenix, AZ 85012, United States
Author contributions: Yanamaladoddi V and Sohal A conceptualized and designed the study; Yanamaladoddi V and D’Cunha H conducted the literature review, interpreted the data, created the artwork and drafted the manuscript; Charley E, Kumar V, Sohal A, and Youssef W supervised the study and made critical revisions; and all authors thoroughly reviewed and endorsed the final manuscript.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.
Corresponding author: Aalam Sohal, MD, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Creighton University School of Medicine, 3216 NE 45th Pl Suite 212, Phoenix, AZ 85012, United States. aalamsohal@gmail.com
Received: October 31, 2024 Revised: March 6, 2025 Accepted: March 14, 2025 Published online: September 9, 2025 Processing time: 261 Days and 11.4 Hours
Core Tip
Core Tip: Early enteral nutrition (EEN), initiated within 48 hours of intensive care unit admission, demonstrates significant benefits across various critical care settings. This review highlights the role of EEN in reducing mortality, infections, and intensive care unit length of stay among patients with severe burns, sepsis, gastrointestinal bleeds, acute pancreatitis along with patients in critical cardiac, respiratory and neurological disease states. EEN also modulates immune responses, supports gut integrity, and decreases stress-related complications. Although some recent studies question EEN’s efficacy, the overall evidence supports its adoption as a standard care practice for critically ill patients to enhance recovery without substantial adverse effects.
