title: [Study of paracetamol levels in serum samples as predictive indicator of gastric emptying].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  According to numerous studies, early initiation of nutrition in patients who have undergone surgery is essential.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We analyzed the available techniques to assess gastric emptying in critically ill patients undergoing surgery, and holding the decision to introduce the type of feeding route.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The measurement of gastric residual volume and auscultation are the standard tests used, but they have not shown great effectiveness. The acetaminophen absorption test seems to be a good predictive tool, that allows in 1 hour whether gastric emptying is right and thus, support the idea of continue with enteral nutrition, change to parenteral nutrition or evaluate the use of prokinetics drugs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although there are studies whose final objective is the evaluation of the test as an indicator of tolerance of enteral nutrition, it is necessary to expand and standardize its use in order to include it in protocols for clinical practice.
authors.affiliation: Lda. Bióloga. Máster Universitario en Análisis Clínicos. Hospital Regional Universitario de Málaga.. maivi80@icloud.com.
authors.forename: María Victoria
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Rodríguez Acosta
authors.affiliation: Catedrático del Departamento de Farmacología y Pediatría. Universidad de Málaga. Facultad de Medicina, Málaga.. correauma@gmail.com.
authors.forename: José Antonio
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: González Correa
authors.affiliation: Médico especialista en Medicina Familiar y Comunitaria. AGS Osuna, Sevilla.. hielo80@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Maria Ángeles
authors.initials: MÁ
authors.lastname: Moreno Fontiveros
authors.affiliation: Médico Especialista en Medicina Intensiva. Director de la Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos Hospital Quirón (Málaga), España.. benidelaserena@gmail.com.
authors.forename: José Antonio
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Benítez
mesh_terms: D000082:Acetaminophen / Q000097:blood*; D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic / Q000097:blood*; D004750:Enteral Nutrition; D005746:Gastric Emptying / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D011182:Postoperative Care; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests
chemical_list: D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic; D000082:Acetaminophen