Objective Acute gastrointestinal dysfunction (AGD) is a common problem in critically ill patients, for whomearly enteral nutrition ( EN) is widely used, but its application dosage remains controversial.This study aimed to observe the influence of dif-ferent doses of early EN on acute gastrointestinal tolerance, new infections and other complications, inflammation indexes, and prognosis in AGD patients. Methods We selected 120 critically ill patients that met thecriteria of class-ⅡAGD and needed EN support andequal-ly randomized them intoa standard-dose and a low-dose ENgroup.The former group received EN at 20 mL/h, with an addition of 10 mL/h every 12 hours according to the tolerance and supplemented byparenteral nutrition (PN) to achieve the target calories(60%) on the 3 rd day, while the latterat 20 mL/h for 7 days, supplemented by PN to achieve the target calories on the 3 rd day and from the 7 th day gradu-ally increased to the full volume.We recorded the patients′ICUdays, hospitaldays, mortality rate, organ function support days, incidence of feeding intolerance within 7 days, incidence of new infections within 7 and 28 days, and levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), procalci-tonin (PCT), tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) and compared these indexes between the two groups. Resulst There were no statistically significant differences between the low -and standardd-ose EN groups in the patients′ICU days, hospital days, mortality rate,organ function support days, or incidence of new infections within 7 and 28 days ( P>0.05) .The incidence of feeding intol-erance on the 7 th day was significantly lower in the low-dose than in the standard-dose EN group ( 13.3 vs 36.7%, P<0.05).On the 1st, 3rd, and 7 th day, the level of CRP was (5.90±0.72), (16.52± 3.09) , and ( 32.11 ±4.33 ) ng/L, respectively, in the low-dose groupversus(5.83±0.59), (15.83±1.19), and (33.16±4.51)ng/L in the standard-dose group, while that of PCTwas (4.71±1.25), (10.63± 2.21), and ( 16.89±3.39) ng/mL, respectively, in the former versus (4.55±0.67), (10.41±1.99), and (17.49±3.87)ng/mL in the latter, both increased in a time-dependent manner and with significant differ-ences among the three time points within the same group ( P<0.05) .The levels of TNF-αand IL-6 were elevated in the same manner and also with significant differences among the three time points within the same group ( P<0 .05) . Conc lusion Lowdose of early enteral nutrition can improve the feeding tolerance of AGDpatients, but does not influence the incidence of new infections and prognosis.

Objective To investigate the accuracy and promptness of thromboelastography (TEG) to assess the blood transfusion requirements after abdominal operation in comparison with conventional assessments including vital signs (MAP,heart rate,breathing rate),urine output,hemoglobin and hematocrit.Methods From June to December in 2010,there were 57 patients were suspected bleeding in abdominal cavity after operation in SICU.Recorded data including vital signs (MAP,heart rate,breathing rate,oxygen saturation),urine volume per hour,the coagulation tests (Fib,PT,aPTT,INR),TEG parameters (R,K,Angle,MA,CI),the results of blood routine (Hb,Hct,Ph) and whether bleeding or not,blood product requirements within 24 h.Results Vital signs (MAP,heart rate,breathing rate,oxygen saturation),urine output per hour and the coagulation tests (Fib,PT,INR) showed no significant correlations (P ＞ 0.05) with blood transfusion requirements,but aPTT (R =0.513,P =0.000) and MA (R =0.578,P =0.000) correlated with the blood transfusion requirement.Patients with reduced MA needed more blood transfusion requirements.Patients were divided into active bleeding group and insidious bleeding group.MA had significant difference between two groups (P =0.025),but aPTT had not.Conclusions Thrombelastography is a more accurate indicator of blood transfusion requirements,especially in active bleeding patients.

Objective To investigate the effects of intravenous fluid restriction on complications after biliary surgery.Methods The clinical data of 168 patients who received biliary surgery at the Nanjing General Hospital of Nanjing Military Command from October 2006 to March 2008 were prospectively analyzed.All patients were randomly divided into test group(85 patients received fluid restriction treatment)and control group(83 patients received conventional treatment)by the sealed envelope method.The difference in the fluid volume between the 2groups was observed.Differences in systemic complication rate,local complication rate,general complication rate,time to bowl movement,length of hospital stay and mortality between the 2 groups were compared.All data were analyzed using the chi-square test,t test,Fisher exact test,Results The median total volumes of fluid in test group and control group were 1450 ml and 2420 ml,respectively,with significant difference between the 2 groups (t=-5.067,P<0.05).The median volumes of erystalloid solution in the test group was 850 ml,which was significantly lower than 1500 ml of the control group(t=-15.190,P<0.05).The postoperative systemic complication rate and general complication rate of the test group were 9%(8/85)and 19%(16/85),which were lower than 22%(18/83)and 30%(25/83)of the control group.There was a significant difference in the postoperative systemic complication rate between the test group and the control group(x2=4.837,P<0.05).The time to bowl movement and length of hospital stay were 2 days and 9 days in the restriction fluid group,which were significantly shorter than4 days and 12 days in the control group(t=-8.102,-2.003,P<0.05).The mortalities of test group and control group were 2%(2/85)and 4%(3/83),respectively,with no significant difference between the 2 groups(P>0.05).Conclusion Fluid restriction reduces the complication rate,shortens the length of hospital stay and accelerates recovery after biliary operation.