title: Gastric Emptying in Critically Ill Children.
abstract: Delayed gastric emptying (GE) impedes enteral nutrient (EN) delivery in critically ill children. We examined the correlation between (a) bedside EN intolerance assessments, including gastric residual volume (GRV); (b) delayed GE; and (c) delayed EN advancement.
  
  
  
  We prospectively enrolled patients ≥1 year of age, eligible for gastric EN and without contraindications to acetaminophen. Gastric emptying was determined by the acetaminophen absorption test, specifically the area under the curve at 60 minutes (AUC60). Slow EN advancement was defined as delivery of <50% of the prescribed EN 48 hours after study initiation. EN intolerance assessments (GRV, abdominal distension, emesis, loose stools, abdominal discomfort) were recorded.
  
  
  
  We enrolled 20 patients, median 11 years (4.4-15.5), 50% male. Sixteen (80%) patients had delayed GE (AUC60<600 mcg·min/mL) and 7 (35%) had slow EN advancement. Median GRV (mL/kg) for patients with delayed vs normal GE was 0.43 (0.113-2.188) vs 0.89 (0.06-1.91), P = .9635. Patients with slow vs rapid EN advancement had median GRV (mL/kg) of 1.02 mL/kg (0.20-3.20) vs 0.27 mL/kg (0.06-1.62), P = .3114, and frequency of altered EN intolerance assessments of 3/7 (42.9%) vs 5/13 (38.5%), P = 1. Median AUC60for patients with slow vs rapid EN advancement was 91.74 mcg·min/mL (53.52-143.1) vs 449.5 mcg·min/mL (173.2-786.5), P = .0012.
  
  
  
  A majority of our study cohort had delayed GE. Bedside EN intolerance assessments, particularly GRV, did not predict delayed GE or rate of EN advancement. Delayed gastric emptying predicted slow EN advancement. Novel tests for delayed GE and EN intolerance are needed.
authors.affiliation: 1 Division of Critical Care Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.|2 Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.|3 Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: Enid E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Martinez
authors.affiliation: 2 Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.|3 Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: Luis M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.affiliation: 4 Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: Kathleen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gura
authors.affiliation: 1 Division of Critical Care Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Stenquist
authors.affiliation: 4 Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.|5 Center for Nutrition, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: Katelyn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ariagno
authors.affiliation: 3 Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.|4 Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: Samuel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nurko
authors.affiliation: 1 Division of Critical Care Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.|2 Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.|3 Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.|5 Center for Nutrition, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: Nilesh M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Mehta
mesh_terms: D000005:Abdomen; D015746:Abdominal Pain; D000082:Acetaminophen / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D000293:Adolescent; D019540:Area Under Curve; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016638:Critical Illness; D004750:Enteral Nutrition; D005243:Feces; D005260:Female; D005746:Gastric Emptying; D005766:Gastrointestinal Contents; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005772:Gastrointestinal Transit; D018589:Gastroparesis / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012121:Respiration, Artificial; D013270:Stomach / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014839:Vomiting
chemical_list: D000082:Acetaminophen
keywords: critical care; delayed enteral nutrition; enteral nutrition; enteral nutrition intolerance; gastric emptying; gastric residual volume; pediatrics