The efficacy and safety of prokinetic agents in critically ill patients receiving enteral nutrition: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized trials

Crit Care. 2016 Aug 15;20(1):259. doi: 10.1186/s13054-016-1441-z.

Abstract

Background: Intolerance to enteral nutrition is common in critically ill adults, and may result in significant morbidity including ileus, abdominal distension, vomiting and potential aspiration events. Prokinetic agents are prescribed to improve gastric emptying. However, the efficacy and safety of these agents in critically ill patients is not well-defined. Therefore, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to determine the efficacy and safety of prokinetic agents in critically ill patients.

Methods: We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library from inception up to January 2016. Eligible studies included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of critically ill adults assigned to receive a prokinetic agent or placebo, and that reported relevant clinical outcomes. Two independent reviewers screened potentially eligible articles, selected eligible studies, and abstracted pertinent data. We calculated pooled relative risk (RR) for dichotomous outcomes and mean difference for continuous outcomes, with the corresponding 95 % confidence interval (CI). We assessed risk of bias using Cochrane risk of bias tool, and the quality of evidence using grading of recommendations assessment, development, and evaluation (GRADE) methodology.

Results: Thirteen RCTs (enrolling 1341 patients) met our inclusion criteria. Prokinetic agents significantly reduced feeding intolerance (RR 0.73, 95 % CI 0.55, 0.97; P = 0.03; moderate certainty), which translated to 17.3 % (95 % CI 5, 26.8 %) absolute reduction in feeding intolerance. Prokinetics also reduced the risk of developing high gastric residual volumes (RR 0.69; 95 % CI 0.52, 0.91; P = 0.009; moderate quality) and increased the success of post-pyloric feeding tube placement (RR 1.60, 95 % CI 1.17, 2.21; P = 0.004; moderate quality). There was no significant improvement in the risk of vomiting, diarrhea, intensive care unit (ICU) length of stay or mortality. Prokinetic agents also did not significantly increase the rate of diarrhea.

Conclusion: There is moderate-quality evidence that prokinetic agents reduce feeding intolerance in critically ill patients compared to placebo or no intervention. However, the impact on other clinical outcomes such as pneumonia, mortality, and ICU length of stay is unclear.

Keywords: Critical illness; Enteral nutrition; Gastroparesis; Prokinetic agents; Systematic review.

Publication types

  • Meta-Analysis
  • Review
  • Systematic Review

MeSH terms

  • Chi-Square Distribution
  • Critical Illness / mortality
  • Critical Illness / therapy
  • Diarrhea / prevention & control
  • Domperidone / pharmacology
  • Domperidone / therapeutic use
  • Dopamine Antagonists / pharmacology*
  • Dopamine Antagonists / therapeutic use
  • Enteral Nutrition / methods
  • Enteral Nutrition / standards*
  • Erythromycin / pharmacology
  • Erythromycin / therapeutic use
  • Gastric Emptying / drug effects*
  • Humans
  • Intensive Care Units / organization & administration
  • Length of Stay / statistics & numerical data
  • Metoclopramide / pharmacology
  • Metoclopramide / therapeutic use
  • Residual Volume / drug effects
  • Vomiting / prevention & control

Substances

  • Dopamine Antagonists
  • Domperidone
  • Erythromycin
  • Metoclopramide