Contents
Introduction
Nutrition
Nutritional requirements
Nutritional needs
Nutritional assessment
Body Mass Index
BMI measurements
Waist circumference
Factors affecting ability to eat
Physical
Pathological
Other
Factors influencing nutrition in hospital
Problems with the food
Problems with the systems of supplying the food
Consequences of malnutrition
Feeding patients
Other methods of feeding
When should nutritional support be considered?
Complications of nutritional support
Hydration
Hydration requirements
Regulation of body fluids
Hormonal influences
Anti-duiretic hormone
Renin
Aldosterone
Kidneys
Electrolytes
Factors affecting hydration needs
Age
Gender and body size
Lifestyle
Environmental temperature
Pathology
Diet
Exercise
Stress
Fluid imbalances
Hypervolaemia
Hypovolaemia
Methods of administration of fluids
Oral
Intravenous
Subcutaneous
Associated problems with intravenous and subcutaneous infusions
Recording fluid balance
Accurate measurement of fluid intake
Accurate measurement of fluid output
Negative and positive fluid balance
References
Biography
Linda Field
