Should we measure intra-abdominal pressures in every intensive care patient?

Acute Gastrointestinal Injury in Critically Ill Patients in a South Indian Intensive Care Unit: A Prospective, Observational, Preliminary Study

Introduction The acute gastrointestinal injury (AGI) score was proposed by the Working Group on Abdominal Problems of the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine (ESICM) as a tool to define and grade gut dysfunction. There have not been any studies in India to validate this tool. The objective of this preliminary study was primarily to study the frequency of AGI in the first week of ICU stay in critically ill patients in our intensive care unit (ICU). We also sought to determine the risk factors predisposing to the development of AGI and to determine the prognostic implication of gastrointestinal (GI) injury in critically ill patients. Materials and methods A prospective, observational, preliminary, single-center study was conducted on critically ill patients (APACHE II > 8) who were on enteral tube feeds and admitted to a mixed ICU of a tertiary care hospital. Anthropometric data, admission diagnosis, APACHE II score, and comorbidities were recorded. Data of daily heart rate, mean arterial pressure, dose of vasopressors, intra-abdominal pressure, fluid balance, feeding intolerance, mechanical ventilation, and laboratory tests were noted for the first seven days of ICU stay or till ICU discharge, whichever was earlier. The occurrence of AGI score (1-4) during the first seven days of critical illness was the primary outcome of interest. Patient outcome at 28 days was recorded and the impact of the occurrence of AGI on patient outcome was analyzed using the Chi-square test. The patient characteristics associated with AGI were characterized as risk factors and analyzed using a multivariate model. Results Data were collected from 33 patients over 201 patient days. The frequency of acute GI dysfunction in the first seven days of ICU stay in our group of patients was 45.45% (15/33). APACHE II, fluid balance, creatinine, and lactate were identified as possible predictors of GI injury based on existing literature. These four variables were entered into an ordinal logistic regression model to assess their ability to predict the occurrence of GI Injury. When fitted into a predictive model, only fluid balance and creatinine were predictive of the final model (p-value < 0.05). A greater fluid balance was predictive in the final model of the development of GI injury; however, it showed negligible clinical significance (OR: 1.00033, 95% CI: 1.000051-1.00061). Lower creatinine levels were predictive in the final model of the development of AGI Injury, as demonstrated by the negative coefficient. Creatinine also had a greater clinical significance (OR: 0.63, 95% CI: 0.44-0.90) in the development of AGI. The impact of the AGI scores on mortality was analyzed. The number of patient days with higher AGI scores was significantly associated with increased mortality at 28 days (p-value < 0.001). Conclusion The study showed that nearly half of the critically ill patients included in the study developed acute GI dysfunction. We could not identify any predictors of GI injury based on our results. The result suggested an association between the severity of GI dysfunction and mortality at 28 days.

Estimation of Physiologic Pressures: Invasive and Non-Invasive Techniques, AI Models, and Future Perspectives

The measurement of physiologic pressure helps diagnose and prevent associated health complications. From typical conventional methods to more complicated modalities, such as the estimation of intracranial pressures, numerous invasive and noninvasive tools that provide us with insight into daily physiology and aid in understanding pathology are within our grasp. Currently, our standards for estimating vital pressures, including continuous BP measurements, pulmonary capillary wedge pressures, and hepatic portal gradients, involve the use of invasive modalities. As an emerging field in medical technology, artificial intelligence (AI) has been incorporated into analyzing and predicting patterns of physiologic pressures. AI has been used to construct models that have clinical applicability both in hospital settings and at-home settings for ease of use for patients. Studies applying AI to each of these compartmental pressures were searched and shortlisted for thorough assessment and review. There are several AI-based innovations in noninvasive blood pressure estimation based on imaging, auscultation, oscillometry and wearable technology employing biosignals. The purpose of this review is to provide an in-depth assessment of the involved physiologies, prevailing methodologies and emerging technologies incorporating AI in clinical practice for each type of compartmental pressure measurement. We also bring to the forefront AI-based noninvasive estimation techniques for physiologic pressure based on microwave systems that have promising potential for clinical practice.

The Correlation between Head of Bed Angle and Intra-Abdominal Pressure of Intubated Patients; a Pre-Post Clinical Trial

INTRODUCTION

The recommended position for measuring Intra-Abdominal Pressure (IAP) is the supine position. However, patients put in this position are prone to Ventilator-associated pneumonia. This study was done to evaluate the relationship between bed head angle and IAP measurements of intubated patients in the intensive care unit.

METHODS

In this clinical trial, seventy-six critically ill patients under mechanical ventilation were enrolled. IAP measurement was performed every 8 hours for 24 hours using the KORN method in three different degrees of the head of bed (HOB) elevation (0 ° , 15 ° , and 30 ° ). Bland-Altman analysis was performed to identify the bias and limits of agreement among the three HOBs. According to World Society of the Abdominal Compartment Syndrome (WSACS), we can consider two IAP techniques equivalent if a bias of <1 mmHg and limits of agreement of - 4 to +4 were found between them. Data were analyzed using SPSS statistical software (v. 19), and the significance level was considered as 0.05.

RESULTS

The prevalence of intra-abdominal hypertension was 18.42%. Mean ± standard deviation (SD) of IAP were 8.44 ± 4.02 mmHg for HOB angle 0°, 9.58 ± 4.52 for HOB angle 15 ° , and 11.10 ± 4.73 for HOB angle 30^o (p = 0.0001). The IAP measurement bias between HOB angle 0°and HOB angle 15° was 1.13 mmHg. This bias was 2.66 mmHg between HOB angle 0° and HOB angle 30°.

CONCLUSION

Elevation of HOB angle from 0 to 30 degree significantly increases IAP. It seems that the measurement of IAP at HOB angle 15° was more reliable than 30°.

Abdominal compartment syndrome due to extremely elongated sigmoid colon and rectum plus fecal impaction caused by disuse syndrome and diabetic neuropathy: a case report and review of the literature

BACKGROUND

Abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS) is defined as a sustained raised level of intra-abdominal pressure more than 20 mmHg with or without abdominal perfusion pressure less than 60 mmHg and the development of new end-organ failure. Abdominal surgery, major trauma, volvulus, ileus, distended abdomen, fecal impaction, acute pancreatitis, liver dysfunction, sepsis, shock, obesity, and age have all been reported as risk factors. Herein, we report the severest known case of ACS due to extremely elongated sigmoid colon and rectum plus fecal impaction caused by disuse syndrome and diabetic neuropathy, together with a brief review of the literature.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 48-year-old Asian man suffering from shock was transported by ambulance to our hospital. His medical history included hypoglycemic encephalopathy sequelae, disuse syndrome, type 2 diabetic neuropathy, and constipation. He recovered consciousness in the ambulance, and his physical examination as well as laboratory findings were normal. X-ray and dynamic computed tomography revealed a thickened gut wall, and an extremely dilated sigmoid colon and rectum filled with a massive amount of stool as well as gas, compressing other intra-abdominal organs. We diagnosed the patient with transient vasovagal syncope, together with ACS, due to extremely elongated sigmoid colon and rectum plus fecal impaction, caused by anorectal disturbance derived from disuse syndrome and diabetic neuropathy. We first repeated stool extraction for bowel decompression and he subsequently became symptom-free, after which we performed a colostomy on the 28th hospital day. The postoperative course was uncomplicated, and he was discharged on the 44th hospital day.

CONCLUSIONS

Clinicians need to keep ACS in mind as a differential diagnosis and perform careful and detailed examination when encountering patients presenting with symptoms or risk factors of ACS. In addition, they need to precisely diagnose ACS and perform optimal treatment without delay.

Intra-Abdominal Hypertension Is Responsible for False Negatives to the Passive Leg Raising Test

OBJECTIVES

To compare the passive leg raising test ability to predict fluid responsiveness in patients with and without intra-abdominal hypertension.

DESIGN

Observational study.

SETTING

Medical ICU.

PATIENTS

Mechanically ventilated patients monitored with a PiCCO2 device (Pulsion Medical Systems, Feldkirchen, Germany) in whom fluid expansion was planned, with (intra-abdominal hypertension+) and without (intra-abdominal hypertension-) intra-abdominal hypertension, defined by an intra-abdominal pressure greater than or equal to 12 mm Hg (bladder pressure).

INTERVENTIONS

We measured the changes in cardiac index during passive leg raising and after volume expansion. The passive leg raising test was defined as positive if it increased cardiac index greater than or equal to 10%. Fluid responsiveness was defined by a fluid-induced increase in cardiac index greater than or equal to 15%.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

We included 60 patients, 30 without intra-abdominal hypertension (15 fluid responders and 15 fluid nonresponders) and 30 with intra-abdominal hypertension (21 fluid responders and nine fluid nonresponders). The intra-abdominal pressure at baseline was 4 ± 3 mm Hg in intra-abdominal hypertension- and 20 ± 6 mm Hg in intra-abdominal hypertension+ patients (p < 0.01). In intra-abdominal hypertension- patients with fluid responsiveness, cardiac index increased by 25% ± 19% during passive leg raising and by 35% ± 14% after volume expansion. The passive leg raising test was positive in 14 patients. The passive leg raising test was negative in all intra-abdominal hypertension- patients without fluid responsiveness. In intra-abdominal hypertension+ patients with fluid responsiveness, cardiac index increased by 10% ± 14% during passive leg raising (p = 0.01 vs intra-abdominal hypertension- patients) and by 32% ± 18% during volume expansion (p = 0.72 vs intra-abdominal hypertension- patients). Among these patients, the passive leg raising test was negative in 15 patients (false negatives) and positive in six patients (true positives). Among the nine intra-abdominal hypertension+ patients without fluid responsiveness, the passive leg raising test was negative in all but one patient. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of the passive leg raising test for detecting fluid responsiveness was 0.98 ± 0.02 (p < 0.001 vs 0.5) in intra-abdominal hypertension- patients and 0.60 ± 0.11 in intra-abdominal hypertension+ patients (p = 0.37 vs 0.5).

CONCLUSIONS

Intra-abdominal hypertension is responsible for some false negatives to the passive leg raising test.

Evaluation and Management of Abdominal Compartment Syndrome in the Emergency Department

BACKGROUND

Abdominal compartment syndrome is a potentially deadly condition that can be missed in the emergency department setting.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this narrative review article is to provide a summary of the background, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management of abdominal compartment syndrome with a focus on emergency clinicians.

DISCUSSION

Abdominal compartment syndrome is caused by excessive pressure within the abdominal compartment due to diminished abdominal wall compliance, increased intraluminal contents, increased abdominal contents, or capillary leak/fluid resuscitation. History and physical examination are insufficient in isolation, and the gold standard is intra-abdominal pressure measurement. Abdominal compartment syndrome is defined as an intra-abdominal pressure >20 mm Hg with evidence of end-organ injury. Management involves increasing abdominal wall compliance (e.g., analgesia, sedation, and neuromuscular blocking agents), evacuating gastrointestinal contents (e.g., nasogastric tubes, rectal tubes, and prokinetic agents), avoiding excessive fluid resuscitation, draining intraperitoneal contents (e.g., percutaneous drain), and decompressive laparotomy in select cases. Patients are critically ill and often require admission to a critical care unit.

CONCLUSIONS

Abdominal compartment syndrome is an increasingly recognized condition with the potential for significant morbidity and mortality. It is important for clinicians to be aware of the current evidence regarding the diagnosis, management, and disposition of these patients.

Intra-Abdominal Hypertension Is More Common Than Previously Thought: A Prospective Study in a Mixed Medical-Surgical ICU

OBJECTIVES

To determine the prevalence of intra-abdominal hypertension in mixed medical-surgical critically ill patients using modern definitions and measurement techniques. Secondarily to determine variables associated with intra-abdominal hypertension and ICU mortality.

DESIGN

A prospective observational study.

SETTING

Single institution trauma, medical and surgical ICU in Canada.

PATIENTS

Consecutive adult patients admitted to the ICU (n = 285).

INTERVENTION

Intra-abdominal pressure measurements twice a day during admission to the ICU.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

In 285 patients who met inclusion criteria, 30% were diagnosed with intra-abdominal hypertension at admission and a further 15% developed intra-abdominal hypertension during admission. The prevalence of abdominal compartment syndrome was 3%. Obesity, sepsis, mechanical ventilation, and 24-hour fluid balance (> 3 L) were all independent predictors for intra-abdominal hypertension. Intra-abdominal hypertension occurred in 28% of nonventilated patients. Admission type (medical vs surgical vs trauma) was not a significant predictor of intra-abdominal hypertension. Overall ICU mortality was 20% and was significantly higher for patients with intra-abdominal hypertension (30%) compared with patients without intra-abdominal hypertension (11%). Intra-abdominal hypertension of any grade was an independent predictor of mortality (odds ratio, 3.33; 95% CI, 1.46-7.57).

CONCLUSIONS

Intra-abdominal hypertension is common in both surgical and nonsurgical patients in the intensive care setting and was found to be independently associated with mortality. Despite prior reports to the contrary, intra-abdominal hypertension develops in nonventilated patients and in patients who do not have intra-abdominal hypertension at admission. Intra-abdominal pressure monitoring is inexpensive, provides valuable clinical information, and there may be a role for its routine measurement in the ICU. Future work should evaluate the impact of early interventions for patients with intra-abdominal hypertension.

Gastrointestinal failure affects outcome of intensive care

PURPOSE

Goal of this study was to describe incidence and outcome of gastrointestinal failure (GIF) in ICU patients, evaluate its additive role to SOFA score in mortality prediction and describe GIF according to etiology.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A retrospective study with prospective data collection was conducted in mixed adult ICU patients admitted 2004-2015. GIF was considered present if ≥3 of following 6 symptoms occurred in 1 day: maximum gastric residual volume ≥ 500 mL; absent bowel sounds; vomiting or regurgitation; diarrhea; suspected or radiologically confirmed bowel distension; gastrointestinal bleeding. Division into primary (gastrointestinal pathology causing GIF) and secondary (due to other conditions) GIF was made based on origin of syndrome.

RESULTS

GIF developed in 413 (10.4%) of 3959 patients. Primary GIF occurred in 61.3% and secondary GIF in 38.7% of patients. Development of GIF was associated with longer mechanical ventilation, ICU stay and higher ICU, 30-day and 90-day mortality. Outcomes of patients with primary and secondary GIF were similar. All SOFA sub-scores and number of gastrointestinal symptoms on admission day independently predicted 90-day mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

Gastrointestinal failure, independent of origin, is associated with worse ICU outcome. Similar to other organ failures included in SOFA score, GIF independently predicts mortality.

Acute kidney injury and intra-abdominal hypertension in burn patients in intensive care

Objective

To evaluate the frequency of intra-abdominal hypertension in major burn patients and its association with the occurrence of acute kidney injury.

Methods

This was a prospective cohort study of a population of burn patients hospitalized in a specialized intensive care unit. A convenience sample was taken of adult patients hospitalized in the period from 1 August 2015 to 31 October 2016. Clinical and burn data were collected, and serial intra-abdominal pressure measurements taken. The significance level used was 5%.

Results

A total of 46 patients were analyzed. Of these, 38 patients developed intra-abdominal hypertension (82.6%). The median increase in intra-abdominal pressure was 15.0mmHg (interquartile range: 12.0 to 19.0). Thirty-two patients (69.9%) developed acute kidney injury. The median time to development of acute kidney injury was 3 days (interquartile range: 1 - 7). The individual analysis of risk factors for acute kidney injury indicated an association with intra-abdominal hypertension (p = 0.041), use of glycopeptides (p = 0.001), use of vasopressors (p = 0.001) and use of mechanical ventilation (p = 0.006). Acute kidney injury was demonstrated to have an association with increased 30-day mortality (log-rank, p = 0.009).

Conclusion

Intra-abdominal hypertension occurred in most patients, predominantly in grades I and II. The identified risk factors for the occurrence of acute kidney injury were intra-abdominal hypertension and use of glycopeptides, vasopressors and mechanical ventilation. Acute kidney injury was associated with increased 30-day mortality.

A pilot study examining experiential learning vs didactic education of abdominal compartment syndrome

BACKGROUND

Current surgical education relies on simulated educational experiences or didactic sessions to teach low-frequency clinical events such as abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS). The purpose of this pilot study was to evaluate if simulation would improve performance and knowledge retention of ACS better than a didactic lecture.

METHODS

Nineteen general surgery residents were block randomized by postgraduate year level to a didactic or a simulation session. After 3 months, all residents completed a knowledge assessment before participating in an additional simulation. Two independent reviewers assessed resident performance via audio-video recordings.

RESULTS

No baseline differences in ACS experience were noted between groups. The observational evaluation demonstrated a significant difference in performance between the didactic and simulation groups: 9.9 vs 12.5, P = .037 (effect size = 1.15). Knowledge retention was equivalent between groups.

CONCLUSIONS

This pilot study suggests that simulation-based education may be more effective for teaching the basic concepts of ACS.

A case of abdominal compartment syndrome derived from simple elongated sigmoid colon in an elderly man

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Abdominal compartment syndrome may result in a clinical syndrome with significant morbidity and mortality.

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Intra-abdominal events, obesity and age have been reported as risk factors.

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We report a first case of abdominal compartment syndrome in an elderly patient without other risk factors.

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Abdominal compartment syndrome may become more common with a growing aging population.

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Surgeons will need to precisely diagnose and determine the optimal time for surgery.

Introduction

Abdominal compartment syndrome or intra-abdominal hypertension may occur after intra-abdominal events, but their etiology and clinical signs remain unclear. We report a case of abdominal compartment syndrome in an elderly patient without other risk factors.

Presentation of case

An 86-year-old man had been admitted to our hospital several times for a dilated sigmoid colon with elongation, and had complained about abdominal pain and abdominal fullness. At every admission we decompressed the sigmoid colon gas by colonoscopy, resulting in early discharge the following day. Recently, the patient developed dementia and experienced reduced activities of daily living that are common with aging. He frequently complained of severe abdominal distension with hypotension, tachycardia and tachypnea, and finally entered hospital twice a week. We decided to perform elective surgery, which showed abdominal compartment syndrome caused by elongated sigmoid colon without volvulus (the first reported case).

Discussion and conclusion

Considering the increase in the aging population, we must bear in mind that abdominal compartment syndrome may occur in simple elongated sigmoid colon without other risk factors.

Acute gastrointestinal injury in the intensive care unit: a retrospective study

Background

Acute gastrointestinal injury (AGI) is a common problem in the intensive care unit (ICU). This study is a review of the gastrointestinal function of patients in critical care, with the aim to assess the feasibility and effectiveness of grading criteria developed by the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine (ESICM) Working Group on Abdominal Problems (WGAP).

Methods

Data of patients who were admitted to the ICU of Shenzhen People’s Hospital, Shenzhen, People’s Republic of China, from January 2010 to December 2011 were reviewed. A total of 874 patients were included into the current study. Their sex, age, ICU admissive causes, complication of diabetes, AGI grade, primary or secondary AGI, mechanical ventilation (MV), and length of ICU stay (days) were recorded as risk factors of death. These risk factors were studied by unconditioned logistic regression analysis.

Results

All the risk factors affected mortality rate. Unconditional logistic regression analysis revealed that the mortality rate of secondary AGI was 71 times higher than primary AGI (odds ratio [OR] 4.335, 95% CI [1.652, 11.375]). When the age increased by one year, the mortality probability would increase fourfold. Mortality in patients with MV was 63-fold higher than for patients with non-MV. Mortality rate increased 0.978 times with each additional day of ICU stay.

Conclusion

Secondary AGI caused by severe systemic conditions can result in worsened clinical outcomes. The 2012 ESICM WGAP AGI recommendations were to some extent feasible and effective in guiding clinical practices, but the grading system lacked the support of objective laboratory outcomes.

The open abdomen, indications, management and definitive closure

The indications for Open Abdomen (OA) are generally all those situations in which is ongoing the development an intra-abdominal hypertension condition (IAH), in order to prevent the development of abdominal compartmental syndrome (ACS). In fact all those involved in care of a critically ill patient should in the first instance think how to prevent IAH and ACS. In case of ACS goal directed therapy to achieve early opening and early closure is the key: paradigm of closure shifts to combination of therapies including negative pressure wound therapy and dynamic closure, in order to reduce complications and avoid incisional hernia. There have been huge studies and progress in survival of critically ill trauma and septic surgical patients: this in part has been through the great work of pioneers, scientific societies and their guidelines; however future studies and continued innovation are needed to better understand optimal treatment strategies and to define more clearly the indications, because OA by itself is still a morbid procedure.

Early screening to identify patients at risk of developing intra-abdominal hypertension and abdominal compartment syndrome

BACKGROUND

To develop a screening tool to identify patients at risk of developing intra-abdominal hypertension (IAH) and abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS) within 24 h of a patient's admission to intensive care unit (ICU).

METHODS

Prospective, observational study of 403 consecutively enrolled patients with an indwelling catheter, admitted to a mixed medical-surgical ICU in a tertiary referral, university hospital. Intra-abdominal pressure was measured at least twice daily and IAH and ACS defined as per consensus definitions.

RESULTS

Thirty-nine per cent of patients developed IAH and 2% developed ACS. Abdominal distension, hemoperitoneum/pneumoperitoneum/intra-peritoneal fluid collection, obesity, intravenous fluid received > 2.3 l, abbreviated Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score > 4 points and lactate > 1.4 mmol/l were identified as independent predictors of IAH upon admission to ICU. The presence of three or more of these risk factors at admission identified patients that would develop IAH with a sensitivity of 75% and a specificity of 76%, the development of grades II, III and IV IAH with a sensitivity of 91% and a specificity of 62%. Patients that developed IAH required a significantly longer duration of mechanical ventilation and ICU care. Patients that developed grades II-IV IAH had a significantly higher rate of ICU mortality.

CONCLUSION

IAH is a common clinical entity in the intensive care setting that is associated with morbidity and mortality. A screening tool, based on data readily available within a patient's first 24 h in ICU, was developed and effectively identified patients that required intra-abdominal pressure monitoring.

Effect of intra-abdominal pressure on respiratory function in patients undergoing ventral hernia repair

AIM

To determine the influence of intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) on respiratory function after surgical repair of ventral hernia and to compare two different methods of IAP measurement during the perioperative period.

METHODS

Thirty adult patients after elective repair of ventral hernia were enrolled into this prospective study. IAP monitoring was performed via both a balloon-tipped nasogastric probe [intragastric pressure (IGP), CiMON, Pulsion Medical Systems, Munich, Germany] and a urinary catheter [intrabladder pressure (IBP), UnoMeterAbdo-Pressure Kit, UnoMedical, Denmark] on five consecutive stages: (1) after tracheal intubation (AI); (2) after ventral hernia repair; (3) at the end of surgery; (4) during spontaneous breathing trial through the endotracheal tube; and (5) at 1 h after tracheal extubation. The patients were in the complete supine position during all study stages.

RESULTS

The IAP (measured via both techniques) increased on average by 12% during surgery compared to AI (P < 0.02) and by 43% during spontaneous breathing through the endotracheal tube (P < 0.01). In parallel, the gradient between РаСО2 and EtCO2 [Р(а-et)CO2] rose significantly, reaching a maximum during the spontaneous breathing trial. The PаO2/FiO2 decreased by 30% one hour after tracheal extubation (P = 0.02). The dynamic compliance of respiratory system reduced intraoperatively by 15%-20% (P < 0.025). At all stages, we observed a significant correlation between IGP and IBP (r = 0.65-0.81, P < 0.01) with a mean bias varying from -0.19 mmHg (2SD 7.25 mmHg) to -1.06 mm Hg (2SD 8.04 mmHg) depending on the study stage. Taking all paired measurements together (n = 133), the median IGP was 8.0 (5.5-11.0) mmHg and the median IBP was 8.8 (5.8-13.1) mmHg. The overall r (2) value (n = 30) was 0.76 (P < 0.0001). Bland and Altman analysis showed an overall bias for the mean values per patient of 0.6 mmHg (2SD 4.2 mmHg) with percentage error of 45.6%. Looking at changes in IAP between the different study stages, we found an excellent concordance coefficient of 94.9% comparing ΔIBP and ΔIGP (n = 117).

CONCLUSION

During ventral hernia repair, the IAP rise is accompanied by changes in Р(а-et)CO2 and PаO2/FiO2-ratio. Estimation of IAP via IGP or IBP demonstrated excellent concordance.

Enteral nutrition discontinuation and outcomes in general critically ill patients

OBJECTIVE

To determine the relationship between enteral nutrition discontinuation and outcome in general critically ill patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

All patients admitted to a mixed intensive care unit in a tertiary care hospital from May-August 2009 were screened for an indication for enteral nutrition. Patients were followed up until leaving the intensive care unit or a maximum of 28 days. The gastrointestinal failure score was calculated daily by adding values of 0 if the enteral nutrition received was identical to the nutrition prescribed, 1 if the enteral nutrition received was at least 75% of that prescribed, 2 if the enteral nutrition received was between 50-75% of that prescribed, 3 if the enteral nutrition received was between 50-25% of that prescribed, and 4 if the enteral nutrition received was less than 25% of that prescribed.

RESULTS

The mean, worst, and categorical gastrointestinal failure scores were associated with lower survival in these patients. Age, categorical gastrointestinal failure score, type of admission, need for mechanical ventilation, sequential organ failure assessment, and Acute Physiologic and Chronic Health Evaluation II scores were selected for analysis with binary regression. In both models, the categorical gastrointestinal failure score was related to mortality.

CONCLUSION

The determination of the difference between prescribed and received enteral nutrition seemed to be a useful prognostic marker and is feasible to be incorporated into a gastrointestinal failure score.