[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"detail-sidebar-cat-0-en-105":3,"doc-seo-406620-105":59,"doc-detail-406620-en":130},{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":6},0,"success",[7,13,18,23,28,33,38,43,48,51,55],{"id":8,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":10,"show_sort_weight":11,"slug":12},1,"Document","Story & Novel",90,"story-novel",{"id":14,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":15,"show_sort_weight":16,"slug":17},2,"Literature",80,"literature",{"id":19,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":20,"show_sort_weight":21,"slug":22},4,"Exam",70,"exam",{"id":24,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":25,"show_sort_weight":26,"slug":27},5,"Comic",60,"comic",{"id":29,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":30,"show_sort_weight":31,"slug":32},6,"Technology",50,"technology",{"id":34,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":35,"show_sort_weight":36,"slug":37},7,"Healthcare",40,"healthcare",{"id":39,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":40,"show_sort_weight":41,"slug":42},8,"Research & Report",30,"research-report",{"id":44,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":45,"show_sort_weight":46,"slug":47},9,"Religion & Spirituality",20,"religion-spirituality",{"id":46,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":49,"show_sort_weight":46,"slug":50},"World Cup","world-cup",{"id":52,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":53,"show_sort_weight":52,"slug":54},10,"Lifestyle","lifestyle",{"id":56,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":57,"show_sort_weight":24,"slug":58},19,"General","general",{"code":4,"msg":60,"data":61},"ok",{"site_id":62,"language":63,"slug":64,"title":65,"keywords":66,"description":67,"schema_data":68,"social_meta":123,"head_meta":125,"extra_data":127,"updated_unix":129},105,"en","constipation-in-critically-ill-adults","Constipation in critically ill adults","","Constipation is a common but frequently overlooked gastrointestinal complication affecting critically ill adults, with clear links to morbidity, prolonged length of stay, and adverse prognosis. This narrative review summarizes current knowledge in the intensive care setting, focusing on definitional and diagnostic difficulties caused by heterogeneous clinical presentations and the absence of standardized diagnostic criteria. It details contributing mechanisms such as immobility, opioid exposure, and altered fluid and electrolyte balance, and considers critical illness-related effects on gut motility. Management options, including pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic strategies, are reviewed alongside the prognostic implications and the need for prospective studies.",{"@graph":69,"@context":122},[70,84,105],{"@type":71,"itemListElement":72},"BreadcrumbList",[73,77,79,82],{"item":74,"name":75,"@type":76,"position":8},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",{"item":78,"name":9,"@type":76,"position":14},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/",{"item":80,"name":35,"@type":76,"position":81},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/healthcare/",3,{"item":83,"name":65,"@type":76,"position":19},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/constipation-in-critically-ill-adults/406620/",{"url":83,"name":65,"@type":85,"image":86,"author":91,"headline":65,"publisher":94,"fileFormat":97,"inLanguage":63,"description":67,"dateModified":98,"datePublished":99,"encodingFormat":97,"isAccessibleForFree":100,"interactionStatistic":101},"DigitalDocument",{"url":87,"@type":88,"width":89,"height":90},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/constipation-in-critically-ill-adults/406620.png","ImageObject",300,407,{"name":92,"@type":93},"Mimi","Person",{"url":74,"name":95,"@type":96},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-10-31","2026-09-28",true,{"@type":102,"interactionType":103,"userInteractionCount":39},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":104},"ViewAction",{"@type":106,"mainEntity":107},"FAQPage",[108,114,118],{"name":109,"@type":110,"acceptedAnswer":111},"Why is constipation considered underrecognized in critically ill adults?","Question",{"text":112,"@type":113},"Constipation is often overlooked because clinical presentations vary and there is no universally accepted definition or standardized diagnostic criteria in the intensive care setting.","Answer",{"name":115,"@type":110,"acceptedAnswer":116},"What factors contribute to constipation in critically ill patients?",{"text":117,"@type":113},"Key contributors discussed include immobility, opioid use, and altered fluid and electrolyte balance, as well as effects of critical illness on gastrointestinal motility.",{"name":119,"@type":110,"acceptedAnswer":120},"How does constipation affect clinical outcomes in the ICU?",{"text":121,"@type":113},"Constipation has been associated with increased infection rates, higher morbidity and mortality, prolonged mechanical ventilation, longer ICU stays, and implications for healthcare costs.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":83,"og:type":124,"og:title":65,"og:site_name":95,"og:description":67},"article",{"robots":126,"canonical":83},"index,follow",{"doc_id":128,"site_id":62},406620,1790815531,{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":131},{"doc_id":128,"user_id":132,"nickname":92,"user_avatar":133,"doc_module":4,"category_id":34,"category_name":35,"doc_title":65,"doc_description":67,"doc_content":134,"file_id":135,"file_url":136,"file_type":137,"file_size":138,"view_count":39,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":8,"is_downloadable":8,"audit_status":8,"page_count":56,"language":139,"language_code":63,"site_id":62,"html_lang":63,"table_of_contents":140,"faqs":141,"seo_title":142,"seo_description":67,"update_tm":143,"read_time":144,"preview_page_count":4},2336477974920,"https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/davatar_155a257f0dc6eb9ab79c44ca47cae57d","| W | J | G | P | World Journal of\u003Cbr>Gastrointestinal Pathophysiology |\n| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |\n\nSubmit a Manuscript: [https://www.f6publishing.com](https://www.f6publishing.com) World J Gastrointest Pathophysiol 2025 December 22; 16(4): 112019  \nDOI: 10.4291/wjgp.v16.i4.112019 ISSN 2150-5330 (online)  \nREVIEW  \nConstipation in critically ill adults  \nYuri Kim, Kay C See  \nSpecialty type: Critical Care Medicine  \nProvenance and peer review:  \nInvited article; Externally peer reviewed.  \nPeer-review model: Single blind  \nPeer-review report’s classification Scientific Quality: Grade B, Grade B, Grade B  \nNovelty: Grade B, Grade B, Grade C  \nCreativity or Innovation: Grade A, Grade B, Grade C  \nScientific Significance: Grade A, Grade B, Grade C  \nP-Reviewer: Uddin MR, Senior Researcher, Bangladesh; Zhang JL, MD, PhD, Academic Fellow, FASCRS, China  \nReceived: July 16, 2025  \nRevised: August 25, 2025  \nAccepted: December 1, 2025  \nPublished online: December 22, 2025  \nProcessing time: 159 Days and 13.9 Hours  \nYuri Kim, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 119228, Singapore  \nKay C See, Department of Medicine, National University Hospital, Singapore 119228, Singapore  \nCorresponding author: Yuri Kim, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 1E Kent Ridge Road, Singapore 119228, [Singapore.](Singapore. yurikim6232@gmail.com)[ yurikim6232@gmail.com](Singapore. yurikim6232@gmail.com)  \nAbstract  \nConstipation is a common yet underrecognized gastrointestinal complication among critically ill adults, significantly impacting morbidity, length of stay, and overall prognosis. This narrative review explores the current understanding of constipation in the critical care setting, emphasizing the challenges in its definition and identification due to variability in clinical presentation and lack of standardized diagnostic criteria. We examine contributing factors such as immobility, opioid use, altered fluid and electrolyte balance, and the effects of critical illness itself on gastrointestinal motility. Furthermore, we discuss available and emerging management strategies in critically ill adults, including pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic interventions, and highlight the importance of early identification and targeted therapy in improving patient outcomes. Finally, we address the prognostic implications of constipation in critically ill adults and the need for prospective studies to better define its impact and inform evidence-based guidelines. This review aims to raise awareness and stimulate further research into this often-overlooked aspect of gastrointestinal pathophysiology in the intensive care unit.  \nKey Words: Constipation; Gastrointestinal motility; Bowel dysfunction; Critical illness; Intensive care unit  \n©The Author(s) 2025. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.  \n WJGP  [https://www.wjgnet.com](https://www.wjgnet.com) 1 December 22, 2025  Volume 16  Issue 4   \nKim Y et al. Constipation in the ICU  \nCore Tip: Constipation is a frequently overlooked complication in critically ill adults that adversely affects clinical outcomes. This review synthesizes current evidence on its complex pathophysiology, multifactorial etiology and diagnostic challenges within the intensive care unit. It underscores the importance of timely recognition and comprehensive management strategies combining both therapeutic and preventive strategies. By highlighting gaps in standardized diagnostic criteria and therapeutic protocols, this article advocates for further research to establish evidence-based guidelines aimed at improving patient prognosis and quality of care in the intensive care unit.  \nCitation: Kim Y, See KC. Constipation in critically ill adults. World J Gastrointest Pathophysiol 2025; 16(4): 112019  \nURL: [https://www.wjgnet.com/2150-5330/full/v16/i4/112019.htm](https://www.wjgnet.com/2150-5330/full/v16/i4/112019.htm)  \nDOI: [https://d","cbCairYjs9YOLj8m","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCairYjs9YOLj8m","pdf",614623,"English","# Introduction\n## Incidence and diagnostic variability\n## Functional constipation criteria (Rome IV)","[{\"question\":\"Why is constipation considered underrecognized in critically ill adults?\",\"answer\":\"Constipation is often overlooked because clinical presentations vary and there is no universally accepted definition or standardized diagnostic criteria in the intensive care setting.\"},{\"question\":\"What factors contribute to constipation in critically ill patients?\",\"answer\":\"Key contributors discussed include immobility, opioid use, and altered fluid and electrolyte balance, as well as effects of critical illness on gastrointestinal motility.\"},{\"question\":\"How does constipation affect clinical outcomes in the ICU?\",\"answer\":\"Constipation has been associated with increased infection rates, higher morbidity and mortality, prolonged mechanical ventilation, longer ICU stays, and implications for healthcare costs.\"}]","Constipation in critically ill adults | PDF",1790566770,48]