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19 Ethical Considerations in Critical Care Nutrition 209
request if this specic treatment is not medically indicated [4]. Respect for autonomy also holds when the patient is unable to fully express their own will, a situation that is common in critical illness [5]. Benecence imposes an obligation to act for the interests of the patient, promoting what is good for them. The principle of non-malecence, often summarized as Primum non nocere,imposes the obli gation not to cause harm to others [5, 6]. The principle of justice pertains to equal access to healthcare for all, ensuring that resources are distributed fairly without discrimina­tion, using ethically appropriate and transparent criteria [
These principles are commonly involved nutritional therapy: it is important to carefully consider which treatment is best and least harmful, with major consideration for respect for human dignity and the general clinical condition and prospect of the person.
in medical choices, and so they are in
5].

Ethical Consideration on Nutrition

Food and water are widely acknowledged as essential for sustaining life and supporting the healing process. Nutrition plays a pivotal role in promoting overall health and preventing illness, representing a fundamental life requirement. Critically ill patients often face challenges in orally consuming adequate food and uids. In instances where oral intake is insufcient to meet nutritional needs, the consideration of nutrition and hydration therapies becomes imperative [
Feeding tubes are utilized to supplement treatment when there is a dened medical objective and indication. In cases where the enteral route is not feasible, specic preparations for parenteral nutrition are employed, typically requiring cen­tral venous access for administration. While this approach offers potential benets for the patient, the initiation of nutrition and hydration therapies should be preceded by a thorough assessment, ensuring that obtaining food and uids naturally is impossible, and should never be employed to reduce nursing workload [8].
In contemporary medical practice, nutrition and hydration are viewed as medical treatments, subject to clinical considerations, prescribed by healthcare providers, and administered through electromedical devices. The will of the competent adult patient must be respected in all cases [9]. Regardless of whether delivered by enteral or parenteral route, nutrition therapy is considered a medical intervention and necessi­tates informed consent from the patient or their authorized representative.
ases w
In c heard, and a comprehensive analysis should be conducted, considering factors such as depression, denial of illness, or protest. Clinicians should be aware that in certain jurisdictions, patients can create legally binding advance directives, including pref­erences regarding nutrition therapy [1012].
Given that can be withheld or withdrawn when unlikely to improve patient outcome or comfort
13, 14], especially towards the end of life in the ICU. The evaluation of appropri-
[ ateness and clinical proportionality is crucial, and the decision to discontinue
here a patient refuses nutrition and hydration, their reasons should be
nutrition and hydration are classied as medical interventions, they
7].
210 G. Fullin et al.
nutrition therapy in the terminal phase of the disease is supported by scientic evidence under specic circumstances [10, 15].
When life-sustaining therapies are no treatment goals need adjustment, planning adequate comfort care becomes crucial. A comprehensive interdisciplinary discussion, grounded in recent evidence, should explore the benets and risks of nutrition therapy, considering alternatives such as assisted oral feeding. This discussion should involve the patient, their family, signicant others, caregivers, and/or surrogate decision-maker, facilitating an inter­disciplinary, collaborative, transparent, proactive, integrated, and systematic decision-making process [16, 17].
longer indicated or consent ed to, and the
Difcult Nutrition-Related Decisions
At the end of a patients life, especially in cases of terminal illness or poor prognosis, decisions regarding nutrition become particularly delicate. While nutrition and hydration are considered life-supporting treatments, there are instances where they may prolong non-benecial care, providing no advantage and increasing the risk of complications that can compromise the persons dignity and integrity, such as infections, diarrhea, and sequelae of the devices used [
While nutrition is an essential aspect of critical care management, its direct impact on the immediate survival of the patient is often less signicant compared to other treatments. Therefore, in cases of specic resistance or challenges (see below), the medical decision to discontinue care may initially target invasive treatments that support vital functions, such as ventilation, extracorporeal supports, or vasopressors. A protocolized approach can help standardize the sequence of treatments that are withheld or withdrawn.
Another s nutrition, particularly in Western countries. Clinicians may be more inclined to discontinue other treatments, such as antibiotic therapy or vasoactive drugs, with less moral distress compared to nutrition therapy [18]. This is particularly pro­nounced in the case of uid therapy, as it invokes the deep-seated belief that taking water is taking life.Nutrition holds a symbolic role and is considered an integral part of hope and survival [10]
Thirst and the end of life is mainly characterized by fatigue, shortness of breath, anxiety, pain, dry mouth, and ulcers. Numerous interventions can relieve these symptoms. Remov­ing nasogastric tubes and providing attentive care to the mouth and lips by nurses (moisturization, mouthwash, allowing for small quantities of uids) can play a pivotal role in alleviating dry mouth symptoms more effectively than intravenous administration of uids. It is noteworthy that, in some patients, intravenous hydra­tion can even prolong the dying process and does not control thirst or painful crusts [
ignicant c
hunger are seldom experienced by terminally ill patients. Discomfort at
19].
onsideration is the emotional signicance of hydration and
.
12].
19 Ethical Considerations in Critical Care Nutrition 211
In ethical decisions concerning nutrition, the inuence of various cultures and religions is signicant. In a society that is becoming increasingly multicultural, it is essential to possess the ability to engage with and understand the importance of religion and other cultural aspects that can impact beliefs and practices related to nutrition and body care [
12].
In Western countries, the principle of respect for patient autonomyis often prioritized, but in other cultures, autonomy is viewed more as guided by the group (such as family or religious community). Within certain religions, nutrition and hydration are considered basic carerather than medications. Different religious beliefs can result in varying opinions on end-of-life practices, including withholding or withdrawing nutrition and hydration therapies [20, 21].
In cases where patients are unable to express their wishes, involving empathetic relatives in the decision-making process can aid in reconstructing the patients preferences and make these challenging decisions more manageable. Additionally, consulting the ethics committee may be an option [22].

Conclusion

Ethical considerations are signicant in modern medicine, extending to the realm of nutrition and hydration. They serve as guiding principles for conducting clinical practice with integrity, trust, fairness, harm reduction, respect for patientsrights, and the delivery of the highest quality care. Various ethical theories exist, with Principlism being one of the most used, offering clinicians a practical tool to navigate complex ethical queries and dilemmas. The fundamental ethical principle asserts that all medical treatments, including nutrition and uids, should only be withdrawn or withheld when they do not benet the pati ent or when refused by the patient. Addressing compelling ethical challenges requires a clinical and empathetic approach that considers ethnic, cultural, spiritual, and religious values.

References

1. Birchley G. The theorisation of best interestsin bioethical accounts of decision-making. BMC Med Ethics. 2021;22(1):68.
2. Michalsen A, Long AC, DeKeyser GF, et al. Interprofessional shared decision-making in the ICU: a systematic review and recommendations from an expert panel. Crit Care Med. 2019;47(9):1258–66.
3. Beauchamp TL, University Press; 2019.
4.
Bosslet GT, and Potentially Inappropriate Treatment; American Thoracic Society; American Association for Critical Care Nurses; American College of Chest Physicians; European Society for Intensive Care Medicine; Society of Critical Care, et al. An ofcial ATS/AACN/ACCP/ESICM/SCCM
Childress
Pope TM, Rubenfeld GD, American Thoracic Society ad hoc Committee on Futile
JF. Principles of biomedical ethics. 8th ed. New York: Oxford
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policy statement: responding to requests for potentially inappropriate treatments in intensive care units. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2015;191(11):1318–30.
5. Cardenas D. Ethical issues and dilemmas in articial nutrition and hydration. Clin Nutr ESPEN. 2021;41:23–9.
6. Bower KL, Shilling DM, Bonnes SL, et al. Ethical implications of nutrition
therapy at the end of
life. Curr Gastroenterol Rep. 2023;25(3):69–74.
7. Singer P. Preserving the quality of life: nutrition in the ICU. Crit Care. 2019;23(Suppl 1):139.
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13054-019-2415-8.
8. Buser CS. Needs of caregivers and needs of the dying regarding food. Schweiz Rundsch Med Prax. 1993;82(38):1033–8.
9. Schwartz DB, Barrocas A, Annetta MG, et al. ASPEN international clinical ethics position paper update workgroup. Ethical aspects of articially administered nutrition and hydration: an ASPEN position paper. Nutr Clin Pract. 2021;36(2):254–67.
10. Druml C, Ballmer PE, Druml W, et al. ESPEN guideline on ethical aspects of articial nutrition and hydration. Clin Nutr. 2016;35(3):545–56.
11. World Medical Association declaration of Malta on hunger strikers, Adopted by the 43rd World Medical Assembly, St. Julians, Malta, November 1991 and revised by the 68th WMA General Assembly, Chicago, United States, October 2017.
12. Gillick MR. The use of advance care planning to guide decisions about articial nutrition and hydration. Nutr Clin Pract. 2006;21(2):126–33.
13. Canadian Critical Care Society Ethics Committee, Bandrauk N, Downar J, Paunovic B. Withholding and withdrawing life-sustaining treatment: the Canadian Critical Care Society position paper. Can J Anaesth. 2018;65(1):105–22.
14. Michalsen A, Bakker J, Sprung CL, et al. Principles and practice of limiting life-sustaining therapies. In: Michalsen A, Sadovnikoff N, Kesecioglu J, editors. Ethics in intensive care medicine. Berlin: Springer; 2023.
15. Carter AN. To what extent does clinically assisted nutrition and hydration have a role in the care of dying people? J Palliat Care. 2020;35(4):209–16.
16. Ely EW, Azoulay E, Sprung CL. Eight things we would never do regarding end-of-life care in the ICU. Intensive Care Med. 2019;45(8):1116–8.
17. Clarke G, Harrison K, Holland A, et al. How are treatment decisions made about articial nutrition for individuals at risk of lacking capacity? A systematic literature review. PLoS One. 2013;8(4):e61475.
18. Del Río MI, Shand B, Bonati P, et al. Hydration and nutrition at the end of life: a systematic review of emotional impact, perceptions, and decision-making among patients, family, and health care staff. Psychooncology. 2012;21(9):913–21.
19. Bruera E, MacDonald N. To hydrate or not to hydrate: how should it be? J Clin Oncol. 2003;21 (9 Suppl):84s–5s; discussion 86s.
20. Brody H, Hermer LD, Scott LD, et al. Articial nutrition and hydration: the evolution of ethics, evidence, and policy. J Gen Intern Med. 2011;26(9):1053–8.
21. Chakraborty R, El-Jawahri AR, Litzow MR, et al. A systematic review of religious beliefs about major end-of-life issues in the ve major world religions. Palliat Support Care. 2017;15(5): 609–22.
22. Schwartz DB, Pavic-Zabinski K, Tull K. Role of the nutrition support clinician on a hospital bioethics committee. Nutr Clin Pract. 2019;34(6):869–80.
Part III
Nutrition Requirements in Special
Conditions
Chapter 20
Nutrition in ARDS, COVID-19, and ECMO
Lorenza Moretto, Michela Bombino, Luca Gianotti, and Emanuele Rezoagli

Introduction

Medical nutrition therapy (MNT) represents a clinically relevant outcome-dening factor in the intensive care unit (ICU) [1]. In this setting, MNT is always challenging and needs to consider several aspects such as the type of illness, the timing of initiation, the administration route, the phase-dependent energy requirements, the
Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is an exemplary reason for admis­sion to the ICU. Local and systemic inammation activates a massive catabolic process, leading to severe weight loss and muscle waste [2]. On top of that, several peculiarities play a key role in dealing with MNT.
In 2020, COVID-19 dramatically raised the prevalence of respiratory failure admitt
ed to the ICU [3] and posed new questions about the role of nutrition in
Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-66541-7_20.
L. Moretto School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy e-mail: l.moretto3@campus.unimib.it
M. Bombino · E. Rezoagli ( School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
Department of Emergency and Intensive Care, Fondazione IRCCS San Gerardo dei Tintori Hospital, Monza, Italy e-mail: emanuele.rezoagli@unimib.it
L. Gianotti School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Unit, Fondazione IRCCS San Gerardo dei Tintori Hospital, Monza, Italy e-mail: luca.gianotti@unimib.it
Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2024
© The A. Cotoia et al. (eds.), Nutrition, Metabolism and Kidney Support,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-66541-7_20
✉)
215
216 L. Moretto et al.
patient care. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is employed in severe ARDS patients as a life-saving support, and no specic MNT guidelines exist in this context. General indications for MNT in ICU are reported in Table 20.1.
In this chapter, we address
ARDS-specic nutrition features, both in the typical
ARDS and in COVID-19 respiratory failure and in the presence of ECMO support
20.2).
(Table

Nutrition in ARDS

ARDS is an acute inammatory lung process characterized by bilateral inammatory inltrates of the parenchyma, causing profound alterations in gas exchange and lung mechanics.
The pro-in requests, in patients often burdened by different comorbidities. Moreover, the incorporation into skeletal muscle of dietary protein-derived amino acids is blunted in critically ill patients [4]. Indeed, altered body composition indexes are associated with higher mortality and represent a common nding in ICU patients [5]. Skeletal muscle index and myosteatosis are associated with a higher rate of postoperative respiratory failure and ARDS, ICU mortality, length of stay, and more ventilatory days [6]. Diaphragm dysfunction has an impact on clinical outcomes such as prolonged mechanical ventilation, re-intubation, tracheostomy, and death. Several features associated with critical illness determine diaphragm weakness, including mechanical ventilation [7]. One observational study showed a relationship between diaphragm thickness and pre-albumin levels in patients with comparable Sequential Organ Functional Assessment (SOFA) score, possibly suggesting an optimization of nutritional status as a preventive approach to avoid diaphragm thinning [8]. There­fore, muscle weakness is a key factor in the management of ARDS as it may prolong the duration of mechanical ventilation.
he o
On t
Overfeeding as much as underfeeding has been linked to longer ICU stay and duration of mechanical ventilation [ store nutrients rises with the amount of supplied calories, and this, in turn, increases oxygen consumption (VO impact ventilation and cardiovascular requirements. As a matter of fact, a growing amount of evidence shows that restrictive caloric administration in the acute phase of an illness does not translate into worst outcomes (i.e., mortality, infectious compli­cations, refeeding syndrome, hypoglycemia, and functional outcomes), while it holds benecial effects in terms of ventilatory days, organ failure, reduced insulin demand, and GI tolerability [
ammator
y state of ARDS leads to increased catabolism and energy
ther hand, the right caloric and protein goals are difcult to dene.
1]. Of note, the energy needed to proces s and
) and carbon dioxide production (VCO2) [9], which
2
10].
20 Nutrition in ARDS, COVID-19, and ECMO 217
Table 20.1 General indication for Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT) in ICU patients
Nutritional risk All patients in intensive care unit for >48 h must be considered for
Calorie goals Measure resting energy expenditure with indirect calorimetry
Protein goals For the general population: 1.2–2 g/Kg of IBW/day
Diet composition Use standard formulas
Timing and route of administration
Improvement of nutri­tional adequacy
MNT as at risk for malnutrition Suggested screening tools for malnutrition are GLIM, NRS 2002, and mNUTRIC Patients deemed at risk of malnutrition after screening must undergo a complete evaluation by experienced professionals (e.g., dietitians, nutritional scientists, specialized physicians) A complete nutritional evaluation must consider the following:
Anamnesis history of reduced food intake, body weight loss,
gastrointestinal symptoms, comorbidities, therapies
Physical examination weight, body mass index, function (e.g., handgrip/dynamometer), skeletal muscle mass (computed tomogra­phy, ultrasound, bioelectrical impedance), signs of malabsorption
Laboratory analysis inammation markers (C-reactive protein, albumin, pre-albumin), total proteins, hepatic (bilirubin, transami­nase, GGT, coagulation) and renal function (creatinine, blood urea nitrogen/urea)
Alternatively use the ideal body weight (IBW)-based formula: 20–25 Kcal/Kg of IBW/day Take account of non-nutritional calories amount (e.g., propofol) Permissive underfeeding can be considered during the acute phase of illness; avoid overfeeding Target glycemia range: 140–180 mg/dL (7.8–10 mmol/L)
For obese patients, use adjusted body weight instead of IBW Assess nitrogen balance to evaluate protein administration adequacy (consider increased losses during renal replacement therapy)
Decrease provision of ω6 fatty acids if possible, reduce propofol administration Micronutrient (vitamins and trace elements) provision:
Administer micronutrients to replete deciencies
Avoid routine high-dose regimens (e.g., vitamin C, selenium)
Administer thiamine to all ICU patients from admission for 3–4 days (100–300 mg/day IV)
A higher repletion dose of vitamin C is usually needed to achieve normal plasma levels during the acute phase of inammation (2–3g/ day IV)
Enteral route (oral or enteral) must be the choice of preference Consider oral route if there is no risk of aspiration If oral intake is inadequate, oral rst, then enteral, nutritional sup­plementation should be considered Consider early total parenteral nutrition if there are contraindications to enteral route Consider parenteral nutrition in addition to enteral feeding if nutri­tional goals are not met; this can be delayed until 7 days from admission
To improve enteral tolerance:
Increase enteral administration gradually
(continued)
218 L. Moretto et al.
Table 20.1 (continued)
Tilt head position at 30°
Assess gastric residual volume every 4–6h
prokinetics in case of vomit, regurgitation, and gastric resid-
Use ual volume > 500 ml Consider postpyloric feeding if
Prolonged unresolving enteral intolerance
High risk of aspiration In orally-fed patients:
Test the presence of dysphagia and use texture-adapted food in dysphagic patients
If swallowing is considered unsafe, use postpyloric enteral nutri­tion; if not possible, temporary parenteral nutrition
GGT gamma-glutamyltransferase, GLIM global leadership initiative on malnutrition, IV intrave­nous, mNUTRIC modied nutrition risk
in critically
ill, NRS-2002 nutritionist risk screening-2002
Table 20.2 Condition-specic indications for MNT
ARDS IC is unreliable
FiO
2
if:
60% PEEP 12 Hyper/hypoventilation
When the type of ventilation and/or degree of respiratory support change, reassess caloric goals Consider administration of sh oil (0.1–0.2 g/Kg of ideal body weight/day) to increase ω3 fatty acids provision, both through enteral and IV route, with continuous infusion If prone position is used, enteral route should be preferred and the diet started early (<24–48 h) To avoid positive/achieve negative uid balance, concentrated enteral or parenteral nutrition may be used
COVID­19
All COVID-19 patients should be considered at risk of malnutrition mNUTRIC correlates well with mortality In patients with COVID-19-related ARDS, medical nutrition therapy should follow the same indications as for typicalARDS Ensure daily allowances of micronutrients to maximize anti-infection nutritional defenses
ECMO All patients on ECMO support should be considered at risk of malnutrition
IC may be used Early enteral nutrition is safe and possibly benecial Administer parenteral nutrition in a dedicated central venous line, not directly into the ECMO circuit Administer IV lipid emulsions through continuous infusion, avoid bolus regimen If the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding is high:
Place the enteral feeding tube before anticoagulation starts or once the bleeding
risk has resolved
Use temporary total parenteral nutrition
To avoid positive/achieve negative uid balance, concentrated enteral or parenteral nutrition may be used
IC indirect calorimetry, ARDS acute brane oxygenation, FiO
inspired fraction of oxygen, IV intravenous, mNUTRIC modied nutrition
2
respiratory distress syndrome, ECMO extra corporeal mem-
risk in critically ill, PEEP positive end-expiratory pressure
20 Nutrition in ARDS, COVID-19, and ECMO 219
Caloric Goals
Moreover, caloric requirements change during the illnesss natural history and with the degree of ventilatory support. VO
increases after the transition from controlled
2
to assisted ventilation and also varies with the type and degree of support (e.g., invasive, noninvasive, pressure support, continuous positive airway pressure [CPAP]) [11, 12]. In this context, the usual caloric provision of 20– 25 Kcal/Kg of ideal body weight per day [2, 13] may not be the best choice for all ARDS patients.
Indirect calorimetry (IC) represents the gold standard to establish caloric goals in ICU. However, its reliability is impaired by some technical factors, such as an FiO greater than 60%, positive end-expiratory pressure higher than 12 cmH2O, and acute changes altering body CO
storage (i.e., hypo- or hyperventilation) [14]. Of note, at
2
least one of these conditions typically occurs in ARDS patients.
Diet Composition
Regarding protein supplementation, observational studies showed benets on mor­tality and functional outcomes with higher than recom mended protein provision (i.e., >1.2–1.3 g/Kg of IBW per day) [
2, 13]. However, these results were not con-
2
supplementation together with physical exercise or neuromuscular stimul ation [17].
Diet composition may also have an impact.
High-lipid low-carbohydrate diets have a lower respiratory quotient and thus decrease VCO
, but their use did not show any clear benet on mechanical venti-
2
lation duration. Furthermore, total calories may be more important than carbohydrate supply, as one study demonstrated that CO
production varied with total caloric
2
provision, regardless of carbohydrate amounts [9]. Therefore, special formulations designed to manipulate the respiratory quotient are not recommended on a routine basis [2, 13].
Immunonutrition
Immunonutrition was rst introduced in 1999 with a trial that reported improved oxygenation as wel l as reduced inammation markers, with omega-3 fatty acids (FA) and antioxidants enriched enteral diet [18]. This study was later included in a metanalysis of three trials reporting a 60% 28-day mortality reduction, a mean increase of 4.9 ventilator-free days, a mean increase of 4.3 ICU-free days, and an 83% reduction in new organ failure risk [19]. However, it is important to note that in all cases the comparator diet was a high-fat formula, rich in omega-6 fatty acids, known for their proinammatory effect, possibly favoring the benecial results of