Effect of Critical Illness on Triglyceride Absorption.

Background: Adequate nutrition support for critically ill patients optimizes outcome, and enteral feeding is the preferred route of nutrition. Small intestinal glucose absorption is frequently impaired in critical illness. Despite lipid being a major constituent of liquid nutrient administered, there is little information about lipid absorption during critical illness.

Randomized double-blind crossover study to determine the effects of erythromycin on small intestinal nutrient absorption and transit in the critically ill.

Background: The gastrokinetic drug erythromycin is commonly administered to critically ill patients during intragastric feeding to augment small intestinal nutrient delivery. However, erythromycin has been reported to increase the prevalence of diarrhea, which may reflect reduced absorption and/or accelerated small intestinal transit.

Objective: The objective was to evaluate the effects of intravenous erythromycin on small intestinal nutrient absorption and transit in the critically ill.