Comparison between enteral nutrition and parenteral nutrition support in aged ventilated patients

Objectives: To observe the effect of total enteral nutrition (TEN)and total parenteral nutrition (TPN)in aged patients with mechanical ventil ation. Methods: 60 cases of aged patients with mechanical ventilation were randomly divided to TEN group and TPN group.All patients accepted the same amount of calorie and nitrogen. Results: with regard to albumin and hemoglobin levels and nitrogen equilibrium TEN group was superior to parenteral nutrition group ( P 0.05), Mechanical ventilation time and treatment cost were decreased in TEN group( P 0.05). There was no statistical difference in the complication rate between two groups ( P 0.05). Conclusions: Enteral nutrition can reduce mechanical ventilation time and lower treatment cost in aged patients.