Enteral nutrition in patients with respiratory disease.

Nutritional assessment and management is an important therapeutic modality in patients with respiratory disease. Malnutrition adversely affects respiratory function. Nutritional therapy for the spontaneously breathing patient should include an appropriate diet plus the consideration of nutritional supplements. Complete nutritional support should be undertaken with enteral nutrition in critically ill patients with respiratory failure. Nutritional complications occur. Overfeeding can lead to nutritionally associated hypercapnia.