Orejana Martín M, Torrente Vela S, Murillo Pérez M A, García Iglesias M, Cornejo Bauer C, Morales Sánchez C, López López C, Cuenca Solanas M, Alted López E
Enfermería de la Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos (UCI) de Trauma y Emergencias, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, Madrid, España.
Enfermería de la Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos (UCI) de Trauma y Emergencias, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, Madrid, España.
Enferm Intensiva. 2014 Apr-Jun;25(2):46-51. doi: 10.1016/j.enfi.2013.11.003. Epub 2013 Dec 14.
To evaluate the incidence and risk factors of constipation in patients with severe trauma (ST).
A retrospective observational study (January-December 2011) of medical records in ST-patients with a minimum stay of 5 days was performed. Descriptive analysis of variables, inferential analysis: Student's T test and Chi-square of SPSS 17.0. Significance level P<.05.
A total of 80 patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria, but only 69 could be analyzed. Of these, 84.06% showed constipation (according to its definition by the Work Group for Metabolism and Nutrition SEMICYUC). The most frequent day of first stool was day 7 and 9 after tolerance of enteral nutrition. Statistical significance (S.S.) of constipation was found with stay, days of sedation/relaxation/opiates, and mechanical ventilation. There was no S.S. between early enteral nutrition (EEN) and constipation (P>.05).
There is a very high incidence of constipation in ST patients. ICU stay, days of analgesic sedation, relaxation, and mechanical ventilation are risk factors that influence the occurrence of this problem. Laxatives should be prescribed prophylactically.
