Nutrition and Venous Thromboembolism Prophylaxis

Patients with ARDS receive nutritional support (See Nutritional Support Using Enteral and Parenteral Methods CPG).46 Enteral feeds are preferred if the gastrointestinal system is functional. Consideration should be given to positioning a naso-jejunal feeding tube for this purpose; a naso-gastric feeding tube can also be used if a feeding tube cannot be advanced through the pylorus. Stress ulcer prophylaxis is recommended in critically ill intubated patients, and all patients with ARDS should be considered for chemical Venous Thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis once adequate hemostasis has been achieved.