ABSTRACT
Introduction
Nutritional management of critically ill patients receiving vasopressors is challenging. This survey aimed to describe UK critical care dietitians’ practices and confidence regarding the route, timing and dose of artificial nutrition support in critically ill patients receiving vasopressors, and explore relationships of these with intensive care unit (ICU) and dietitian professional characteristics.
Methods
A cross-sectional, anonymous survey was distributed electronically to UK registered dietitians working in ICU via the British Dietetic Association Critical Care Specialist Group and British Society of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition mailing lists. The 32-item survey included questions regarding ICU and professional characteristics, dietetic practices (artificial nutrition route, timing, and dose), evidence sufficiency and confidence. Data were compared between ICU and professional characteristics and dietetic practice using Fisher’s exact or Kruskal-Wallis tests, as appropriate, and with self-reported confidence using Spearman’s rank correlation or Kruskal-Wallis.
Results
Of 89 responses, 72 met the eligibility criteria. All respondents completing dietetic practice questions (71/71, 100%) used gastric feeding as the first-line artificial nutrition route, and two thirds (47, 66.2%) initiated this within 24-48 h of ICU admission. Over two thirds (39/57, 68.4%) aimed for < 70% energy targets in the first 72 h, with 48 (84.2%) escalating to full targets thereafter. Despite more than three quarters (41/52, 78.8%) feeling confident in managing critically ill patients receiving vasopressors, most considered evidence to be insufficient. There was no significant association between enteral nutrition practices and any ICU or dietitian professional characteristics or self-reported confidence.
Conclusion
Amongst UK critical care dietitians, there is substantial variation in EN initiation and escalation practices for critically ill patients receiving vasopressors. Despite high self-reported confidence, evidence concerning the route, timing and dose of artificial nutrition was perceived insufficient.
Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, Volume 39, Issue 4, August 2026. Read More