At the estimation of the nutritional support in critically ill patients we respect the classical model of stress metabolism (D. Cuthbertson, 1942), according to which the metabolic response to stress runs in 2 subsequent phases – the ebb phase and the flow phase. The aim of the nutritional support is catabolism grade decrease and sufficient delivery ensurement of the nutritional substrates for the proteosynthesis support. Algorithm of the nutritional support planning has 3 steps: fulfilment of the conditions for nutritional support start, estimation of the actual nutritional requirements and determination of the nutritional support strategy with the preference of early enteral feeding, unless there are contraindications of administration.

        Key words: classical model of stress metabolism – catabolism grade decrease and proteosynthesis support – algorithm of the nutritional support planning – preference of early enteral feeding