Nutritional Effects on Ventilation

This presentation will discuss both the effects of malnutrition on the ventilatory system and the influence of nutrients upon the elements of the ventilatory system and also upon the demands for gas exchange. The ventilatory system is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in the intensive care unit. Yet, there is only limited information on the role of nutrition in treating ventilatory failure. This is surprising in view of the attention to nutrition in muscle work performance, while the ventilatory system is highly dependent upon muscle function. The ventilatory system can be discussed in three subdivisions: 1. The ventilatory drive involving the central nervous system; 2. The pump, or respiratory muscles; and 3. The organ of gas exchange which is the lungs.