Predicting caloric needs in patients with chronic intestinal failure: comparison of indirect calorimetry vs. theoretical equations

Background: In patients with Chronic Intestinal Failure (CIF), reduced absorption of macronutrients, water and electrolytes necessitates intravenous supplementation. CIF should be managed by a multi-disciplinary team, in which dietitians play a key role in providing tailored dietary advice and compensating deficient absorption via intravenous nutrition. Accurate estimation of energy requirements is essential and can be estimated through indirect calorimetry or prediction formulas. However, it is unclear how accurate these formulas are in the context of CIF.