Intolerance to intragastric enteral nutrition in critically ill patients: Complications and management

Compared with parenteral nutrition, early administration of enteral nutrition (EN) to critically ill patients improves clinical outcomes and reduces infection rates. Intragastric EN often is complicated by intolerance, as indicated by elevated volumes of aspirated gastric residuals. Conflicting data are available for the volume of residual that represents intolerance, but most clinicians use 150-200 ml to signify gastrointestinal motility dysfunction. Intolerance is associated with mortality. Data support an association between intragastric EN and aspiration pneumonia, but little information is available regarding the contributory effect of intolerance. Transpyloric migration of the feeding tube may facilitate tolerance but does not reduce the likelihood of aspiration pneumonia. Prokinetic agents (cisapride, erythromycin, metoclopramide) promote gastric emptying. Results of most studies are limited because patients did not receive or tolerated intragastric EN. Metoclopramide is the agent of choice for treating intolerance. Further studies are necessary before prokinetic drugs can be recommended for preventing intragastric EN-associated aspiration pneumonia.