Influence of severity of illness, medication and selective decontamination on defecation.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the pattern of defecation in critically ill ventilated patients and the influence of selective decontamination (SDD) and other medication.


METHODS
Descriptive cohort study.


METHODS
Mixed surgical-medical ICU in a university Hospital.


METHODS
Ventilated patients with a length of stay >or=7 days taking part in a study on SDD.


METHODS
Daily registration of defecation, SOFA (sepsis-related organ failure assessment score) score, administration of dopamine, noradrenaline, morphine and other medications.


RESULTS
The first defecation occurred after a mean of 6.2 days. Patients with defecation within 6[Symbol: see text]days had lower mean SOFA scores, received more cisapride and lactulose and less dopamine, noradrenaline and morphine, and had a shorter duration of mechanical ventilation and ICU stay. On 57% of the days, no stools were produced; on 31% diarrhea, and on 12%, normal stools. Patients receiving SDD had more days with normal stools and less with diarrhea. Diarrhea was preceded by the administration of lactulose in the majority of patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Time to first defecation correlated with severity of illness, vasoactive medication, administration of morphine, cisapride and lactulose, duration of mechanical ventilation and length of stay. Diarrhea seemed at least partially iatrogenic.
van der Spoel
Johan I
JI
Onze Lieve Vrouwe Gasthuis, Department of Intensive Care, Oosterpark 9, 1091 AC Amsterdam, The Netherlands. j.i.vanderspoel@olvg.nl
Schultz
Marcus J
MJ
van der Voort
Peter H J
PH
de Jonge
Evert
E
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015331:Cohort Studies; D016638:Critical Illness; D003666:Decontamination / Q000379:methods*; D003672:Defecation / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands; D012121:Respiration, Artificial; D018805:Sepsis; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents