Original Communications Gastric Motility Function in Critically Ill Patients Tolerant vs Intolerant to Gastric Nutrition

ABSTRACT. Background: Administration of gastric enteral nutrition (EN) in the intensive care unit (ICU) is commonly impeded by high gastric residual volumes (GRV). This study evaluated gastric emptying in patients with limited GRV (tol-erant group) vs volumes 150 mL (intolerant group) and whether prokinetic therapy improves gastric motility in intol-erant patients. Methods: To assess gastric motility, mechanically ventilated patients received acetaminophen 975 mg, and peak plasma concentration (Cmax), concentration at 60 minutes (C60), time to Cmax (Tmax), and area under the concentration-time curve from 0 to 60 minutes (AUC0-60) were determined. This evaluation was repeated in intolerant patients after 24 hours of either erythromycin 250 mg or metoclopramide 10 mg therapy, both administered intravenously every 6 hours.Results: Ten tolerant and 20 intolerant patients were studied. Toleran