Critically ill patients and gut motility: Are we addressing it?

Table 1 Factors associated with decreased gastric emptying

Factors associated with decreased gastric emptying
Hyperglycemia
Opiates
Elevated intracranial pressure
Electrolyte abnormalities
Ischemia
Hypoxia
Sepsis
Burns
Abdominal surgery
Hyperosmolar formulas

Adapted from Hurt RT, McClave SA. Gastric Residual Volumes in Critical Illness: What do They Really Mean? Crit Care Clin 2010: 26: 481-490.

Table 2 Methods of measuring gastric emptying

Methods of measuring gastric emptying
Scintigraphy
Paracetamol absorption
Carbohydrate absorption
Isotope breath test
Ultrasound and MRI
Gastric residual volumes

Table 3 Factors predisposing to Ogilvie’s syndrome

Factors predisposing to Ogilvie’s syndrome
Medications
Opiates
Anticholinergics
Vasopressors
Calcium channel blockers
Cardiovascular factors
Shock
Heart failure
Critical illness
Severe sepsis
Pancreatitis
Mechanical ventilation
Hypoxemia
Post-operative state
Abdominal surgery
Peritonitis
Pelvic or hip fracture surgery
Metabolic factors
Hypokalemia
Renal failure
Hyperglycemia
Neurologic
Spinal cord lesions
Stroke