BACKGROUND: Cardiac surgery patients with a prolonged stay in the intensive care unit (ICU) are at high risk for acquired malnutrition. Medical nutrition therapy practices for cardiac surgery patients are unknown. The objective of this study is to describe the current nutrition practices in critically ill cardiac surgery patients worldwide.

METHODS: We conducted a prospective observational study in 13 international ICUs involving mechanically ventilated cardiac surgery patients with an ICU stay of at least 72 h. Collected data included the energy and protein prescription, type of and time to the initiation of nutrition, and actual quantity of energy and protein delivered (maximum: 12 days).

RESULTS: Among 237 enrolled patients, enteral nutrition (EN) was started, on average, 45 h after ICU admission (range, 0-277 h; site average, 53 [range, 10-79 h]). EN was prescribed for 187 (79%) patients and combined EN and parenteral nutrition in 33 (14%). Overall, patients received 44.2% (0.0%-117.2%) of the prescribed energy and 39.7% (0.0%-122.8%) of the prescribed protein. At a site level, the average nutrition adequacy was 47.5% (30.5%-78.6%) for energy and 43.6% (21.7%-76.6%) for protein received from all nutrition sources.

CONCLUSION: Critically ill cardiac surgery patients with prolonged ICU stay experience significant delays in starting EN and receive low levels of energy and protein. There exists tremendous variability in site performance, whereas achieving optimal nutrition performance is doable.