Background & aims: To develop a five grade score (0e4 points) for the assessment of gastrointestinal (GI) dysfunction in adult critically ill patients. Methods: This prospective multicenter observational study enrolled consecutive adult patients admitted to 11 intensive care units in nine countries. At all sites, daily clinical data with emphasis on GI clinical symptoms were collected and intra-abdominal pressure measured. In five out of 11 sites, the biomarkers citrulline and intestinal fatty acid-binding protein (I-FABP) were measured additionally. Cox models with time-dependent scores were used to analyze associations with 28-and 90-day mortality. The models were estimated with stratification for study center. Results: We included 540 patients (224 with biomarker measurements) with median age of 65 years (range 18e94), the Simplified Acute Physiology Score II score of 38 (interquartile range 26e53) points, and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score of 6 (interquartile range 3e9) points at admission. Median ICU length of stay was 3 (interquartile range 1e6) days and 90-day mortality 18.9%. A new five grade Gastrointestinal Dysfunction Score (GIDS) was developed based on the rationale of the previously developed Acute GI Injury (AGI) grading. Citrulline and I-FABP did not prove their potential for scoring of GI dysfunction in critically ill. GIDS was independently associated with 28-and 90-day

ObjectiveTo estimate the incidence of acute mesenteric ischaemia (AMI), proportions of its different forms and short-term and long-term mortality.DesignSystematic review and meta-analysis.Data sourcesMEDLINE (Ovid), Web of Science, Scopus and Cochrane Library were searched until 26 July 2022.Eligibility criteriaStudies reporting data on the incidence and outcomes of AMI in adult populations.Data extraction and synthesisData extraction and quality assessment with modified Newcastle-Ottawa scale were performed using predeveloped standard forms. The outcomes were the incidence of AMI and its different forms in the general population and in patients admitted to hospital, and the mortality of AMI in its different forms.ResultsFrom 3064 records, 335 full texts were reviewed and 163 included in the quantitative analysis. The mean incidence of AMI was 6.2 (95% CI 1.9 to 12.9) per 100 000 person years. On average 5.0 (95% CI 3.3 to 7.1) of 10 000 hospital admissions were due to AMI. Occlusive arterial AMI was the most common form constituting 68.6% (95% CI 63.7 to 73.2) of all AMI cases, with similar proportions of embolism and thrombosis.Overall short-term mortality (in-hospital or within 30 days) of AMI was 59.6% (95% CI 55.5 to 63.6), being 68.7% (95% CI 60.8 to 74.9) in patients treated before the year 2000 and 55.0% (95% CI 45.5 to 64.1) in patients treated from 2000 onwards (p<0.05). The mid/long-term mortality of AMI was 68.2% (95% CI 60.7 to 74.9). Mortality due to mesenteric venous thrombosis was 24.6% (95% CI 17.0 to 32.9) and of non-occlusive mesenteric ischaemia 58.4% (95% CI 48.6 to 67.7). The short-term mortality of revascularised occlusive arterial AMI was 33.9% (95% CI 30.7 to 37.4).ConclusionsIn adult patients, AMI is a rarely diagnosed condition with high mortality, although with improvement of treatment results over the last decades. Two thirds of AMI cases are of occlusive arterial origin with potential for better survival if revascularised.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42021247148.

Background There is a lack of population‐based studies on acute mesenteric ischemia (AMI). We have therefore performed a nationwide epidemiological study in Estonia, addressing incidence, demographics, interventions and mortality of AMI. Methods A retrospective population‐based review was conducted of all adult cases of AMI accrued from the digital Estonian Health Insurance Fund and Causes of Death Registry for 2016–2020 based on international classification of diseases (ICD‐10) diagnostic codes and procedure codes (NOMESCO). Results Overall, 577 cases of AMI were identified—an annual incidence of 8.7 per 100,000. The median age was 79 (range 32–104) and 57% were female. Predominating comorbidities included hypertensive disease (81%), atherosclerosis (67%), and atrial fibrillation (52%). The majority of cases (60%) were caused by superior mesenteric artery occlusion (thrombosis 54%, embolism 12%, and unclear 34%). Inferior mesenteric artery occlusion occurred in 7%, non‐occlusive mesenteric ischemia in 7%, venous thrombosis in 4%, whereas the type remained unclear in 21% of cases. 40% of patients received intervention (revascularization and/or intestinal resection) and 13% active non‐operative treatment. In 21% an exploratory laparotomy or laparoscopy revealed unsalvageable bowel prompting end‐of‐life care, which was the only management in a further 25% of cases. Conclusions The population‐based annual incidence of AMI in Estonia was 8.7 per 100,000 during the study period. The overall hospital mortality and 1 year mortality were 64% and 74%, respectively. In the 53% of patients who received active treatment hospital mortality was 32% and 1 year all‐cause mortality was 51%. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT04867499.

Background Gastric residual volume (GRV) measurement to detect gastrointestinal (GI) dysfunction is a common diagnostic procedures in critical care, albeit still not well standardized being operator‐, patient‐, and tube‐dependent. Our aim was to describe current practice of GRV measurements and its association with clinical outcomes in critically ill patients. Methods This was a secondary analysis of an international prospective observational cohort study (intestinal‐specific organ function assessment). Eligibility criteria were defined as ≥1 GRV measurement during the 7‐day study period. Data collection included GRV measurement practices, tube diameters and volumes, symptoms of GI dysfunction, and clinical outcomes. The primary aim was to describe current practices of GRV measurements, and the secondary aim was to test the association of high (>200 ml) vs. low GRV with symptoms of GI dysfunction and clinical outcomes using generalized linear regression and survival models. Results Two hundred fifty‐eight patients with 2422 GRV measurements on 875 study days were analyzed. GRV was mainly measured via passive drainage twice daily using large diameter tubes. There was no significant association between tube size or measurement technique and high GRV. High GRV occurred in 34% of patients and was associated with other GI symptoms and with increased disease severity but not with 28‐day or 90‐day mortality, intensive care unit‐free and ventilator‐free days. Conclusion There was substantial variability of GRV measurement techniques, but this had no impact on the amount of GRV. High GRV was not associated with mortality or ventilator‐free days but may serve as a marker of GI dysfunction and disease severity.

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