A survey of incidence of constipation in the intensive care unit and the effect of medications to treat of it

Gastrointestinal motility disorders are considered one of the most common digestive problems in the intensive care units that mainly appear as decreased gastrointestinal motility and constipation. The current study is to evaluate theincidence of constipation in the intensive care unit and effect of medications to treat it. 31 patients were studied. Inclusion criteria were age≥ 18 years، hospitalization in the intensive care unit for more than three days، receiving enteral nutrition and non-malignant gastro intestinal or stomach surgery. Evaluation criteria forconstipation was lack of gastrointestinal excretion for three consecutive days. Constipation occurred in 61. 3% (n=19) of the patients. There was no difference between constipated and not constipated in terms of sex، age، Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II، mechanical ventilation، sedation and opiate use. Incidence of constipation with increased length of stay in the intensive care unit were significantlycorrelated (11. 5±5 days vs. 6. 5±5 days). There was no difference between patient using laxative and other patients in the incidence of constipation. Despite medical treatment، constipation in ICU، had a high incidence that increased duration of hospitalization. Several factors influencing the incidence of constipation and lack ofatreatment protocol from doctors and nurses is the most important reason for the high prevalence of constipation.