Alimentary pharmacology & therapeutics
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Aliment. Pharmacol. Ther. · Sep 2013
ReviewReview article: the role of gastrointestinal hormones in the treatment of delayed gastric emptying in critically ill patients.
Delayed gastric emptying limits the administration of enteral nutrition, leading to malnutrition, which is associated with higher mortality and morbidity. Currently available prokinetics have limitations in terms of sustained efficacy and side effects. ⋯ Manipulation of endogenous secretion, physiological replacement and administration of gastrointestinal hormones in pharmacological doses is likely to have therapeutic potential in the treatment of delayed gastric emptying. Future challenges in this field will include the search for candidates with improved selectivity and favourable kinetic properties.