Re: 58 year old female with Down's Syndrome

May 9, 2011

I have in my references Men: 16.1 kcal/cm and Female: 14.3 kcal/cm. That

being said I have zero experience with this population, so perhaps

someone can confirm or deny if this is accurate for assessment.

Carley Colotti RD, LD

SNHMC- West Campus

May 9, 2011

I just had a female at a group home I consult at with this similar diagnosis

- her BMI was high though (most of my Down Syndrome residents are high) She

was able to go off tube feedings onto oral. One of the main issues we had,

staff was feeding too fast and not adequately allowing them to sip between

bites. In fact we have another resident with cerebral palsy who is

" coughing " when fed too quickly. SLPs are excellent here. I give them Kcal

as per any adult according to weight and height, nothing different because

of Down Syndrome. They are all short stature and as I said all overweight

in my group home, so I account for that.

I noticed she is on Prevacid - there is concern with long term use (in a

small population) that it can decrease magnesium levels - be sure they are

checked. Actually had one the other day in my NH who had been supplementing

for 2-3 years with Mg.The Mg was still low and of course was also on

omeprazole.

On Mon, May 9, 2011 at 3:12 PM, Carol S. Casey wrote:

>

> Recentl admission. 58 year old female with Down's Syndrome. She is

> non-verbal. Height: 49 inches, Weight: 82 lbs. Based on normal standards

> her BMI is 24. she currently has a G-tube with Osmolite 1.2 at 45 ml/hr

> with 100 ml H20 flush every 8 hours Recent hospitalization for aspiration

> pneumonia which is what promoted the G-tube placement. She was also

> admitted with sepsis, acute kidney injury(whatever that means), dysphagia,

> metabolic alkalosis, and sinus bradycardia. BUN, Cr, Na+, & K+ all WNL.

> Current medications include: Ca with Vit D, MVI, Zyvox, Lactobacillus, and

> Prevacid. Speech is working with her and attempting to transition to oral

> diet. I am skeptical of their possbility of success, but stranger things

> have happened. I have references for down syndrome children stating that

> kcalorie needs are 13.3 kcal/cm ht. I have one other Down Syndrome

> resident, but he is alert and able to take oral diet. His nutritional

> status is fairly stable. I am looking for any references pertaining any

> adjustments necessary regarding the assessed nutrition needs. Thank you,

> Carol

>

> --

> " It is better to fail in originality than to succeed in imitation. "

> Herman Melville

>

> (w)

> ©

>

May 9, 2011