Nutritional care of patients with motor neurone disease

Abstract

Nutritional research in patients with motor neurone disease has gathered pace from observations of inadequate dietary intakes and malnutrition to sophisticated techniques measuring daily energy expenditure. However, there is much to learn, particularly in defining the optimum time for gastrostomy and reducing early post-procedural mortality. The new percutaneous radiological gastrostomy technique appears to be as safe as percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy but problems associated with tube failure prevent this method replacing the endoscopic option entirely. Nutritional management provided by multidisciplinary teams allows clinicians to work in partnership to provide patient-centred and coordinated care.