<s>[INST] I have a cousin in hospice and hes a tbi patient who has a trach and has a lot of mucus and we r having to stop is bolus feeds im just wondering how long he can survive without them [/INST] Hello, I am sorry to hear what you and your family are going through. It must be very tough. The duration of survival without feeding depends on the underlying person. If he has a lot of nutrient stores, then he could theoretically survive for several weeks. Malnourished people on the hand may not survive as long without feeding. Hospice care focuses on the patients comfort, and it is important to realize that feeding him may not necessarily add to his comfort level and would in fact prolong his suffering. </s>