Use of an elemental diet for intestinal disorders and for the critically ill

Abstract

Summary A semihydrolyzed, elemental diet (Flexical) was found to provide effective nutrition in catabolic states associated with intestinal fistulas, short bowel, severe enteritis, and trauma. In some instances, the improved nutritional status was accompanied by healing of local intestinal lesions. In severely debilitated, cachectic patients, the elemental diet was administered in association with intravenous alimentation. Although this new form of nutrition cannot substitute parenteral feeding when the gut is obstructed or perforated, it appears to be more readily accepted than other liquid nonhydrolyzed diets in the course of severe intestinal or extraintestinal diseases. In this sense, elemental diets may represent a valuable addition to the nutritional managreement of the critically ill.