Abstract

RODRIGUEZ ACOSTA, María Victoria; GONZALEZ CORREA, José Antonio; MORENO FONTIVEROS, María ángeles  and  BENITEZ, José Antonio. Study of paracetamol levels in serum samples as predictive indicator of gastric emptying. Nutr. Hosp. [online]. 2015, vol.31, n.6, pp.2648-2650. ISSN 1699-5198.  https://dx.doi.org/10.3305/nh.2015.31.6.8039.

Introduction: according to numerous studies, early initiation of nutrition in patients who have undergone surgery is essential. Objetives: we analyzed the available techniques to assess gastric emptying in critically ill patients undergoing surgery, and holding the decision to introduce the type of feeding route. Results: the measurement of gastric residual volume and auscultation are the standard tests used, but they have not shown great effectiveness. The acetaminophen absorption test seems to be a good predictive tool, that allows in 1 hour whether gastric emptying is right and thus, support the idea of continue with enteral nutrition, change to parenteral nutrition or evaluate the use of prokinetics drugs. Discussion: although there are studies whose final objective is the evaluation of the test as an indicator of tolerance of enteral nutrition, it is necessary to expand and standardize its use in order to include it in protocols for clinical practice.

Keywords : Paracetamol test; Simplified paracetamol test; Gastric emptying; Gastric residual volume.

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