title: Preventing constipation in critically ill patients.
abstract: In 2003 an audit was carried out on an ICU which demonstrated that the incidence of constipation was high and that this could contribute to the failure to wean patients from mechanical ventilation (Mostafa et al, 2003). A protocol was introduced to standardise the assessment and management of constipation. This article explores why patients in intensive care are at risk of constipation and presents the results of a second audit, carried out after the protocol was introduced, to assess its impact on patients.
authors.affiliation: Royal Liverpool University Hospital Trust.
authors.forename: Gillian
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ritchie
authors.forename: Lorraine
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Burgess
authors.forename: Sobhy
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mostafa
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wenstone
mesh_terms: D003248:Constipation / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016638:Critical Illness; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D009731:Nursing Audit; D018570:Risk Assessment