Underfeeding in critical illness is common and associated with poor outcomes. Researchers in the UK designed a before-and-after study to evaluate the safety, efficacy and clinical outcomes associated with volume-based feeding (VBF) compared to rate-based feeding (RBF) in a single intensive care unit (ICU). The prospective before-and-after study suggests that VBF safely and effectively increased the delivery of energy and protein to critically ill, mechanically ventilated patients, and that increased protein delivery may improve extubation rate, but these factors did not influence mortality or ICU length of stay (ICU-LOS). The study adds weight to the ICU literature supporting VBF, and the growing evidence which advocates for enhanced protein delivery to improve patient outcomes.

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