"Innovative Approaches to Nutrition Support in Critically ill Medical-Surgical Patients"

Abstract: Nutrition support is a cornerstone of care for critically ill medical-surgical patients, profoundly influencing recovery, immune competence, wound healing, and overall outcomes. Critical illness induces complex metabolic and inflammatory responses that significantly alter nutritional requirements and tolerance. Traditional nutrition strategies, while beneficial, often fail to address the dynamic and individualized needs of this population. In recent years, innovative approaches to nutrition support have emerged, integrating advances in critical care medicine, nutritional science, technology, and nursing practice. These approaches emphasize early and personalized nutrition, functional assessment, immune-modulating nutrients, metabolic monitoring, and interdisciplinary collaboration. This review critically examines contemporary and emerging innovations in nutrition support for critically ill medical-surgical patients, focusing on enteral and parenteral nutrition advancements, precision nutrition, metabolic modulation, digital health technologies, and the expanding role of nurses in optimizing nutritional care. The review highlights evidence-based practices, clinical challenges, and future directions aimed at improving patient outcomes and quality of care in intensive and high-dependency medical-surgical units.