Objective  To investigate the effect of sequential enteral and parenteral nutrition on nutritional status and prognosis of patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) complicated with respiratory failure.

  Methods  A total of 60 patients with AECOPD complicated with respiratory failure were randomly divided into control group and observation group, with 30 cases in each group. The control group received enteral nutrition support, and the observation group received sequential enteral and parenteral nutrition support. The nutritional status, rehabilitation index and complication rate of the two groups were compared.

  Results  After one week of nutritional support, serum albumin (ALB), transferrin (TRF) and prealbumin (PA) in the observation group were significantly higher than those in the control group, and mechanical ventilation duration as well as length of ICU stay were significantly shorter than those in the control group (P < 0.05). The complication rate in the observation group was 3.33%, which significantly lower than 26.67% in the control group (P < 0.05).

  Conclusion  Sequential parenteral and parenteral nutritional support can improve the nutritional status of patients with AECOPD complicated with respiratory failure, reduce their complications and speed up the recovery process.