Gastrointestinal Dysmotility: Clinical Consequences and Management of the Critically Ill Patient

Abnormal gastrointestinal motility is a common feature of critical illness and results in a number of clinical problems that can complicate the management of patients in the intensive care unit. In this review the authors outline and describe the abnormalities in motility, their clinical sequelae, and the priorities of management. Reduced lower gastroesophageal sphincter pressures can result in esophageal reflux, slow gastric emptying leads to reduced success of gastric feeding, and impaired small intestinal motility may be associated with reduced nutrient absorption. Targeted treatment includes the administration of prokinetic agents and the delivery of nutrition directly into the small intestine.