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Introduction: Little attention has been given to the status of the gastrointestinal tract in the critically ill patient. Traditional teachings in critical illness have promoted the dogma that the gut is dormant, metabolically inactive, and of little physiologic and pathologic significance. More recent information has refuted this long-standings beliefs. The intestinal tract indeed provides a number of important functions which in turn influence the clinical outcome of many critically ill patients. Its extensive absorptive area provides an important site for feeding and nutrient utilization. The gut also serves as a barrier to prevent abnormal absorption of intraluminal microbes and/or microbial products. Moreover, the gut is the most common source of nosocomial infections among critically ill patients. The intestinal tract is also the largest lymphoid organ in the body and it, in turn, plays an important role in the immune response of the stressed and critically ill patient.

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2004-08-03   |   1,063 visitas   |   Evalua este artículo 0 valoraciones

Vol. 18 Núm.1. Enero-Diciembre 2002 Pags. 26-29 Med Hoy 2002; 18(1)