Constipation and its implications in the critically ill patient.
BACKGROUND
Motility of the lower gut has been little studied in intensive care patients.


METHODS
We prospectively studied constipation in an intensive care unit of a university hospital, and conducted a national survey to assess the generalizability of our findings.


RESULTS
Constipation occurred in 83% of the patients. More constipated patients (42.5%) failed to wean from mechanical ventilation than non-constipated patients (0%), P<0.05. The median length of stay in intensive care and the proportion of patients who failed to feed enterally were greater in constipated than non-constipated patients (10 vs 6.5 days and 27.5 vs 12.5%, respectively (NS)). The survey found similar observations in other units. Delays in weaning from mechanical ventilation and enteral feeding were reported by 28 and 48% of the units surveyed, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Constipation has implications for the critically ill.
Mostafa
S M
SM
Intensive Therapy Unit, Royal Liverpool University Hospital, Prescot Street, Liverpool, L7 8XP, UK. Fred.Mostafa@rlbuht.nhs.uk
Bhandari
S
S
Ritchie
G
G
Gratton
N
N
Wenstone
R
R
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003248:Constipation / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D003422:Critical Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016638:Critical Illness / Q000628:therapy*; D004750:Enteral Nutrition; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008485:Medical Audit; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology; D015300:Ventilator Weaning