New Stable Isotope Method to Determine Protein Requirements in Critically Ill Children

Inclusion Criteria

• •1. Critically ill children with age less than 18 years at the time of enrollment
• •2. Admitted to the Pediatric ICU or Cardiovascular ICU, with an expected stay of \>72 hours
• •3. One arterial line (or umbilical arterial line) and one multi-lumen central venous line (or two peripheral venous catheters) in place.
• •4. Continuous total parenteral nutrition or continuous enteral feeding (e.g. via nasogastric, nasoduodenal, gastric, jejunal tube) with standard nutrition appropriate for age and weight expected during admission.
• •5. No planned major changes or interventions (such as surgery) in the treatment and care of the patient from enrollment to completion of study period (end of 24-hour stable isotope infusion protocol).
• •6. Hemodynamic stable condition (with or without continuous inotropic medication) defined as ≤1 boluses of volume resuscitation for hypotension in 24 hour.
• •7. No significant loss of plasma/blood from wounds or drains, that may influence the results of the study, no chylothorax.
• •8. Informed consent by parent(s) or LAR.