Serum Bicarbonate and Enteral Feeding Intolerance in Adult ICU: A Prospective Clinical Trial

Exclusion Criteria

• •Patients under the age of 18.Individuals who are currently pregnant or breastfeeding.
• •Patients with gastrointestinal (GI) perforation, active GI bleeding, or mechanical bowel obstruction.
• •Patients who have undergone major abdominal surgery (e.g., esophagectomy, gastrectomy) within the last month.
• •Patients receiving total parenteral nutrition (TPN) or those who are only fed orally.
• •Patients requiring specialized enteral formulas (e.g., diabetic, renal, immunomodulatory, elemental, or semi-elemental) due to clinical necessity.
• •Patients with a known diagnosis of diabetes or those with HbA1c \>6.5 requiring a diabetic enteral formula.
• •Patients with terminal-stage malignancy or those requiring specific enteral nutrition protocols.
• •Patients with advanced (Child-Pugh C) liver failure.
• •Patients with chronic kidney failure requiring dialysis.
• •Patients with diabetic ketoacidosis, severe metabolic asidozis, or those requiring initial bicarbonate replacement.
• •Patients who are brain dead or in the palliative care stage.