An examination of gastrointestinal absorption using the acetaminophen absorption test in critically ill patients with COVID-19: A retrospective cohort study

Enteral feeding tolerance during pharmacologic neuromuscular blockade

A common misperception is that critically ill patients who receive paralytic therapy will not tolerate enteral nutrition. As a result, some clinicians empirically withhold enteral feedings for critically ill patients who receive neuromuscular blocker pharmacotherapy (NMB). The intent of this review is to examine the evidence regarding enteral feeding tolerance for critically ill patients given NMB. Studies evaluating enteral feeding during paralytic therapy are provided and critiqued. Evidence examining enteral feeding tolerance during NMB is limited. Enteral feeding intolerance is more likely attributable to the underlying illnesses and concurrent opioid analgesia, sedation, and vasopressor therapies. Most critically ill patients can be successfully fed during NMB. Prokinetic pharmacotherapy may be warranted in some patients.

Oral Drug Absorption and Drug Disposition in Critically Ill Cardiac Patients

(1) Background: In critically ill cardiac patients, parenteral and enteral food and drug administration routes may be used. However, it is not well known how drug absorption and metabolism are altered in this group of adult patients. Here, we analyze drug absorption and metabolism in patients after cardiogenic shock using the pharmacokinetics of therapeutically indicated esomeprazole. (2) Methods: The pharmacokinetics of esomeprazole were analyzed in a consecutive series of patients with cardiogenic shock and controls before and after elective cardiac surgery. Esomeprazole was administered orally or with a nasogastric tube and once as an intravenous infusion. (3) Results: The maximum plasma concentration and AUC of esomeprazole were, on average, only half in critically ill patients compared with controls (p < 0.005) and remained lower even seven days later. Interestingly, esomeprazole absorption was also markedly compromised on day 1 after elective surgery. The metabolites of esomeprazole showed a high variability between patients. The esomeprazole sulfone/esomeprazole ratio reflecting CYP3A4 activity was significantly lower in critically ill patients even up to day 7, and this ratio was negatively correlated with CRP values (p = 0.002). The 5'-OH-esomeprazole and 5-O-desmethyl-esomeprazol ratios reflecting CYP2C19 activity did not differ significantly between critically ill and control patients. (4) Conclusions: Gastrointestinal drug absorption can be significantly reduced in critically ill cardiac patients compared with elective patients with stable cardiovascular disease. The decrease in bioavailability indicates that, under these conditions, any vital medication should be administered intravenously to maintain high levels of medications. After shock, hepatic metabolism via the CYP3A4 enzyme may be reduced.

Fructose as a novel nutraceutical for acetaminophen (APAP)-induced hepatotoxicity

Acetaminophen (APAP) is the most widely used analgesic in the world. APAP overdose can cause severe hepatotoxicity and therefore is the most common cause of drug-induced liver injury. The only approved treatment for APAP overdose is N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC) supplementation. However, the narrow efficacy window of the drug severely limits its clinical use, prompting the search for other therapeutic options to counteract APAP toxicity. Recent research has pointed to fructose as a novel nutraceutical for APAP-induced liver injury. This review summarizes the current understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying APAP-induced liver injury, introduces how fructose supplementation could prevent and treat APAP liver toxicity with a focus on the ChREBPα-FGF21 pathway, and proposes possible future directions of study.

Specific nutritional and metabolic characteristics of COVID‐19 persistent critically ill patients

Background

Little is known about metabolic and nutrition characteristics of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) and persistent critical illness. We aimed to compare those characteristics in patients with PCI and COVID‐19 and patients without COVID‐19 infection (non‐CO)—primarily, their energy balance.

Methods

This is a prospective observational study including two consecutive cohorts, defined as needing intubation for >10 days. We collected demographic data, severity scores, nutrition variables, length of stay, and mortality.

Results

Altogether, 104 patients (52 per group) were included (59 ± 14 years old [mean ± SD], 75% men) between July 2019 and May 2020. SAPSII, Nutrition Risk Screening (NRS) score, proportion of obese patients, duration of intubation (18.2 ± 11.7 days), and mortality rates were similar. Patients with COVID‐19 (vs non‐CO) had lower SOFA scores (P = 0.013) and more frequently needed prone position (P < 0.0001) and neuromuscular blockade (P < 0.0001): lengths of ICU (P = 0.03) and hospital stays were shorter (P < 0.0001). Prescribed energy targets were below those of the ICU protocol. The energy balance of patients with COVID‐19 was significantly more negative after day 10. Enteral nutrition (EN) started earlier (P < 0.0001). During the first 10 days, COVID‐19 patients received more lipid (propofol sedation) and less protein. Higher admission C‐reactive protein (P = 0.002) decreased faster (P < 0.001). Whereas intestinal function was characterized by constipation in both groups during the first 10 days, diarrhea was less common in patients with COVID‐19 thereafter.

Conclusion

Compared with non‐CO patients, COVID‐19 patients were not more obese, had lower SOFA scores, and were fed more rapidly with EN, because of a more normal gastrointestinal function possibly due to fewer non–respiratory organ failures: their energy balances were more negative after the first 10 days. Propofol sedation reduced protein delivery.