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Enteral Nutrition Management in a Patient With Traumatic Brain Injury in the Neuro-Intensive Care Unit: A Case Report

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Neurocritically ill patients often encounter challenges in maintaining adequate enteral nutrition (EN) owing to metabolic disturbances associated with increased intracranial pressure, trauma, seizures, and targeted temperature management. This case report highlights the critical role of the nutrition support team (NST) in overcoming these barriers and optimizing EN delivery in a patient with traumatic brain injury (TBI). A 59-year-old man was admitted to the neuro-intensive care unit following TBI. EN was initiated early in accordance with clinical guidelines. By the time of transfer to the general ward, 82.4% of the estimated energy requirement and 102.8% of the protein requirement were met. Despite this, the patient experienced 19.4% weight loss, likely due to underestimation of hypermetabolic demands and delays in EN advancement caused by fluctuating clinical conditions. NST adjusted the nutrition strategy by incorporating high-protein formulas, parenteral nutrition supplementation, and gastrointestinal management. This case report demonstrates the importance of individualized, multidisciplinary nutritional interventions in improving clinical outcomes for neurocritically ill patients.

Source: Clinical Nutrition Research

DOI: 10.7762/cnr.2025.14.3.157

Authors: Eunjin So, Yoon-Hee Choo

Institutions: The Catholic University of Korea Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, Catholic University of Korea

Language: English

Topic: Clinical Nutrition and Gastroenterology

Subfield: Nutrition and Dietetics

Field: Nursing

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: diamond

Funder: Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, Catholic University of Korea