Nutritional support as part of the basic therapy of a patient in the acute period of ischemic stroke in the intensive care unit

Ischemic stroke remains the predominant cause of disability in the population (3.2 per 1000 population). Only 8% of surviving after ischemic stroke patients can return to their previous work. An integral part of the treatment of ischemic stroke in the intensive care unit is nutritional support. Nutritional support is an integral part of a multidisciplinary approach to the treatment of a patient with ischemic stroke, both during the acute period of the disease and in the rehabilitation phase, since brain damage always has metabolic consequences for the patient's body, and both premorbid malnutrition and malnutrition after stroke, significantly impact to outcome of the disease. The prevalence of malnutrition in patients with ischemic stroke varies widely. According to various sources, it ranges from 6.1% to 62%, depending on the method for determining protein-energy malnutrition. Despite the relevance of the problem of nutritional support for patients with ischemic stroke, there are few specific recommendations in the literature for this category of patients. This review focuses on nutritional support for patients who require mechanical ventilation or stay in the intensive care unit for more than 48 hours.