2020 Volume 70 Issue 1 Pages 7-12
Objective: A gastrointestinal function management protocol was introduced in April 2018 to the intensive care unit of A hospital. Our objective was to study whether the protocol was effective for defecation control. Method: One hundred patients who were given enteral nutrition in the intensive care unit were included. This retrospective study investigated defecation status, use of gastrointestinal drugs, and occurrence of gastrointestinal complications. Results: Constipation decreased, and the number of days of constipation was significantly lower in patients who were treated by the protocol (p<0.05). Diarrhea tended to decrease, but there was no significant difference in the number of days of diarrhea (p=0.519). There was no significant difference in the number of days in the intensive care unit until the first defecation (p=0.130). The percentage of patients requiring nutritional dose reduction due to gastrointestinal complications tended to be lower in patients on the protocol. The number of days until reaching maximum calories tended to be less in patients on the protocol (p=0.206). Conclusion: There were no adverse events due to the gastrointestinal function management protocol, and the period of constipation was significantly shortened. In addition, the ability of nurses to assess the gastrointestinal function of critically ill patients has improved. We aim to improve the quality of the protocol.
