Quantitative visualization of gastrointestinal motility in critically ill patients using a non-invasive...

This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of using electrogastrography (EGG)/electroenterography (EEnG) to quantitatively visualize gastrointestinal (GI) motor function in critically ill patients.

EGG/EEnG were performed at baseline and before and after nutrition in critically ill patients with mechanical ventilation. Enteral nutrition varied in content. Dominant frequency (DF), dominant power (DP), and power ratio (PR) were calculated and compared with those from healthy controls (previous study; n = 50).

Data from 20 % of patients were unstable and could not be analyzed. Of the 54 patients analyzed, 41 were on enteral nutrition, and their age and body mass index differed from controls. Gastric DF differed significantly between critically ill patients and controls (p < 0.001). No significant difference was noted in gastric log₁₀ DP between pre- and post-prandial periods in critically ill patients (2.79 vs 2.86, p = 0.328), but controls showed a significant increase (3.04 vs 3.22, p = 0.009). Critically ill patients had lower gastric log₁₀ DP than controls (pre-prandial p = 0.038; post-prandial p = 0.003). In the small intestine, log₁₀ DP did not differ significantly between pre- and post-prandial periods in critically ill patients (1.45 vs 1.52, p = 0.181), but controls showed a significant increase (1.70 vs 1.86, p < 0.001). Critically ill patients had lower small intestinal log₁₀ DP than controls (pre-prandial p = 0.004; post-prandial p < 0.001). PR was inferior in critically ill patients than in controls.

EGG/EEnG could enable quantitative visualization of GI motor function in critically ill patients. Larger studies can determine the association of GI symptoms with risk factors and prognostic factors.