Critical Care Medicine-Gastrointestinal, Nutrition and Genitourinary Disorders>>>>>Nutrition in Critical Illness
Question 4#

A patient’s calculated nitrogen balance is 4 g/d. What change to the patient’s nutrition would you make?

A. Increase protein intake
B. Decrease protein intake
C. No change needs to be made to the protein content
D. Begin 25% albumin every 8 hours

Correct Answer is C

Comment:

Correct Answer: C

Calculating the nitrogen balance requires a 24-hour urine collection and can be derived using the following formula: (total protein intake [g/d]/6.25) − (urinary urea nitrogen − 4). A standard goal for nitrogen balance is (+) 4 to 6 g/d.

Reference:

1. Dickerson RN. Using nitrogen balance in clinical practice. Hosp Pharm. 2005;40(12):1081-1085.