Constipation is independently associated with delirium in critically ill ventilated patients

Roland Smonig (1) , Timothée Wallenhorst (2, 1) , Pierre Bouju (1, 2) , Julien Letheulle (1, 2) , Yves Le Tulzo (3, 1, 2) , Jean Marc Tadié (3, 1, 2) , Arnaud Gacouin (3, 1)

1 Service des maladies infectieuses et réanimation médicale [Rennes] = Infectious Disease and Intensive Care [Rennes]
2 Biosit : Biologie - Santé - Innovation Technologique - Structure Fédérative de Recherche en Biologie et Santé de Rennes
3 CIC - Centre d'Investigation Clinique [Rennes]

Delirium is a central nervous system (CNS) dysfunction reported in up to 80 % of intensive care unit (ICU) patients associated with negative short- and long-term outcomes [1, 2]. Gastrointestinal motility disorders are frequent in ICU patients leading to frequent delayed passage of stools [3]. Because there is a bi-directional communication between the CNS and the digestive tract [4], we believed it relevant to test the hypothesis that constipation and delirium are related in ICU patients.

Mots clés: constipation; delirium; critical care; observational study; mechanical ventilation

Domaines: Sciences du Vivant [q-bio]

Roland Smonig, Timothée Wallenhorst, Pierre Bouju, Julien Letheulle, Yves Le Tulzo, et al.. Constipation is independently associated with delirium in critically ill ventilated patients. Intensive Care Medicine, 2016, 42 (1), pp.126-127. ⟨10.1007/s00134-015-4050-4⟩. ⟨hal-01201950⟩