UMEM Educational Pearls

Category: Critical Care

Title: GI Complications of Obesity in Critical Illness

Posted: 5/3/2011 by Mike Winters, MD (Updated: 4/19/2024)
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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

Ashburn DD, Reed MJ. Gastrointestinal system and obesity. Crit Care Clin 2010;26:625-7.