title: Nutrition support for the long-term ventilator-dependent patient.
abstract: This article discusses issues related to nutrition support for the critically ill (CCI), especially those who are dependent on ventilators for long periods. A large and growing population of patients survives acute critical illness only to become CCI with profound debilitation, weeks to months of hospitalization, and often permanent dependence on mechanical ventilation and other life-sustaining modalities. Despite resource-intensive treatment, outcomes for CCI remain poor. Topics addressed in this article include neuroendocrine profiles in CCI patients, allostatic overload, causes of prolonged mechanical ventilation, and the metabolism of chronic ventilator dependence. The article also describes issues related to assessing the nutrition, determining nutrition requirements, and deciding the route of nutrient delivery for CCI patients.
authors.affiliation: Surgical Nutrition Service, Department of Surgery, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, GA 30912, USA. gcresci@mcg.edu
authors.forename: Gail
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cresci
authors.forename: Jorge I
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Cué
mesh_terms: D052636:Allostasis; D003422:Critical Care; D016638:Critical Illness / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D018529:Nutritional Support; D012121:Respiration, Artificial; D015431:Weight Loss; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000517:prevention & control