Calorimetry Guided Nutrition vs. Recommended Daily Intake in Weaning Chronically Ventilated Patients: Double Blind RCT.
In this study, we intend to examine the effectiveness of an indirect calorimetry-guided nutrition plan, compared to the conventional, RDI-guided nutrition plan in mechanically ventilated patients, in terms of success rates of prolonged ventilation weaning, and shorter weaning time period. Hypotheses: The rates of chronically ventilated patients weaned off invasive ventilation will increase by 15% in the intervention group, and the average weaning period in this group will be reduced by 10 ± 4 days. Methods: A randomized controlled intervention trial that will include 200 chronically ventilated patients, admitted to the "Reuth" Rehabilitation Hospital, who meet the criteria for weaning from prolonged mechanical ventilation. Patients in the intervention group (n=100) will undergo precise calorimetric measurements using indirect calorimetry and will be administered with a nutrition plan in accordance with these measurements. Nutrition plans of patients in the control group (n=100) will be calculated and administered according to current RDI conventions (up to 24 Kcal/kg/day). In order to assure blinding, patients in the control group will undergo the same calorimetric measurements using indirect calorimetry, however, these results will not be used in any way to determine or influence the nutritional plan.
Start: December 2019