P434 - GASTROINTESTINAL DYSFUNCTION AFTER ABDOMINAL SURGERY: A PROSPECTIVE STUDY USING GIDS IN ICU

P434

GASTROINTESTINAL DYSFUNCTION AFTER ABDOMINAL SURGERY: A PROSPECTIVE STUDY USING GIDS IN ICU

R. F. Tartari^1,2,*, B. F. Viana¹, D. Zaffari³, J. G. Moreno³, T. R. Moreira⁴

¹Nutrition, Santa Casa de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, ²Master's Degree in Food, Nutrition and Health, Unisinos, São Leopoldo, ³Master's Degree in Food, Nutrition and Health, Unisinos, ⁴Nutrition, UFCSPA, Porto Alegre, Brazil

Rationale: Gastrointestinal dysfunction (GDF) is a frequent complication in critically ill patients, especially after major abdominal surgery. This study aimed to evaluate the incidence of GDF using the Gastrointestinal Dysfunction Score (GIDS) and its association with clinical outcomes in ICU patients during the postoperative period.

Methods: This was a prospective cohort study conducted in a tertiary ICU. Adult patients undergoing major abdominal surgery were assessed with the GIDS tool during the first 7 days of ICU stay. Patients were followed for 28 days to evaluate the association between GDF risk/presence and clinical outcomes, including time to initiation of feeding, adequacy of enteral nutritional intake, ICU length of stay, and 28-day mortality.

Results: A total of 74 patients were included (mean age 60.2 years; 55.4% female). Among them, 63.5% received a polymeric enteral formula, and 36.5% were fed via alternative routes. The highest GDF risk was observed on day 5, while GDF presence was most frequent on days 1, 2, 6, and 7. Higher GIDS scores were associated with younger patients, delayed achievement of nutritional goals, and prolonged ICU stay.

Conclusion: GDF is prevalent in the postoperative period of major abdominal surgery and is associated with delayed nutritional progression and increased ICU length of stay. The use of the GIDS tool can support early identification of at-risk patients and guide individualized nutritional and clinical strategies.

References: Reintam Blaser A, et al.  Development of the Gastrointestinal Dysfunction Score (GIDS) for critically ill patients. Clin Nutr. 2021 Aug;40(8):4932-4940.

Preiser JC, et al. A guide to enteral nutrition in intensive care units: 10 expert tips for the daily practice. Crit Care. 2021 Dec 14;25(1):424. 

Disclosure of Interest: None declared