Search
Gastrointestinal Changes of Obesity that Complicate Critical Illness
- Obesity predisposes patients to several gastrointestinal abnormalities that can cause, or complicate, critical illness.
- Important abnormalities to keep in mind when managing a critically ill obese patient include:
- Increased intra-abdominal pressure which predisposes to abdominal compartment syndrome
- Increased incidence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease which may lead to prolonged drug metabolism
- Increased incidence of cholelithiasis which may result in pancreatitis or cholangitis
References
Ashburn DD, Reed MJ. Gastrointestinal system and obesity. Crit Care Clin 2010;26:625-7.