Optimization of Nutritional Therapy in Mechanically Ventilated, Critically Ill Patients.

Optimization of Nutritional Therapy by Variation of Methods to Determine Energy Needs in Mechanically Ventilated, Critically Ill Patients.

The aim of this study is to investigate whether an individualized determination of energy requirements using indirect calorimetry instead of a formula-based approach leads to an optimized nutritional support and as a consequence to an optimized nutritional status of the critically ill, mechanically ventilated patients measured by the phase angle.

Inclusion Criteria:

• age over 18 years
• mechanical ventilation
• an hospital stay of at least three days at the intensive care unit of the University Hospital of Tübingen
• possibility to perform indirect calorimetry measurements (FiO2 ≤70, PCO2 ≤ 0,5)
• possibility to perform Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA)
• underlying indication for enteral or/and parenteral nutritional support
• written informed consent from the patient or a legal authorized person

Exclusion Criteria:

• cardiac pacemaker