The 2017 ASPEN guidelines on pediatric critical care nutrition: an update

This is the first collaboration of 2 organizations, ASPEN and SCCM. Included here are 1,107 clinical trials, 16 RCTs and 37 cohort studies. It highlights that energy needs are best measured by indirect calorimetry.

Exact protein dosing is unclear but minimum should be 1.5g/kg/d. Enteral nutrition is preferred over parenteral nutrition, with several strategies to optimize enteral nutrition. Supplemental parenteral nutrition should be individualized approach and its aggressive use is not recommended.