Management of gastrointestinal and nutritional problems in children on home invasive mechanical ventilation

In recent decades, the patient survival is increased due to the advances in intensive care units and development of modern mechanic ventilators. Unfortunately, it is not always possible to wean these children from mechanical ventilation. Recently, after placement a tracheostomy tube, they can support at home with non-invasive or invasive mechanical ventilation. Most of the children who need ventilation support at home have neurological impairment. The nutritional issues and gastrointestinal complications are well defined in critically ill patients, but there are very limited studies on the children with tracheostomy. Considering that majority of the patients has neuromuscular disorders, the nutritional and gastrointestinal problems of the children with tracheostomy are discussed, in the light of the knowledge on critically ill patients.