Vasoactive and Inotropic Support, Tube Feeding, and Ischemic Gut Complications After Cardiac Surgery.

Background: Vasoactive and inotropic support (VIS) may predispose cardiac surgery patients to ischemic gut complications (IGCx). The purpose of this study was to describe the effect of VIS on the manner in which we deliver tube feeds (TFs) and determine its relationship with IGCx in cardiac surgery patients.

Methods: We reviewed cardiac surgery patients at a single institution and examined the effect of VIS (none, low, medium, high) on TF administration and evaluated IGCx.