Evaluating the Utility of RELiZORB™ for Treating Feeding Intolerance in Critically Ill Adults With Multi-Organ Failure

This is a double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel design study. A total of 32 adult patients who have been admitted to the Surgical or Medical Intensive Care Unit with evidence of MOF (defined as requiring mechanical ventilation and demonstrating at least one more system failure on the SOFA score on the day of ICU admission) and who have not yet been initiated on enteral nutrition or were initiated on enteral nutrition up to 48 hours prior.

After informed consent has been obtained, two patients will receive enteral formula administered through RELiZORB™ as test subjects (will be excluded from analysis). Subsequently, patients will be randomized to RELiZORB™ vs placebo cartridges in a 1:1 ratio. Enteral nutrition will be administered through RELiZORB™ cartridges (up to 6 cartridges per day depending on the volume of enteral nutrition). Patients will be studied for a total of 5 days (considered to be the end of study). Patients will return to the original form of nutritional support per their routine clinical care.

Inclusion criteria

• Male or female patients aged 18 - 89 years of age.
• Patients who have Multi-Organ Failure (MOF) (defined as requiring mechanical ventilation and demonstrating at least one more system failure on the SOFA score on the day of ICU admission).
• Patients who have not yet been initiated on enteral nutrition, yet enteral nutritional support is needed, or patients who have been initiated on enteral nutrition within the previous 48 hours. Enteral nutrition support defined as support planned to be given via any route connected to the gastrointestinal system (i.e., the enteral route). This includes tube feeding using nasogastric, nasoduodenal, gastrostomy, jejunostomy tubes, or similar.
• Patients who lack the capacity to consent for themselves may be included upon receiving consent from their legally authorized representatives.

Exclusion criteria

• Pregnant women and prisoners.
• Hypotension is attributed to suspected or confirmed cardiogenic shock.
• Evidence of unresolved intestinal obstruction, ischemia, bleeding, perforation, fistulas or tract discontinuity, or other contraindication for enteral nutrition.
• Sepsis suspected or confirmed due to an abdominal source and enteral nutrition is contraindicated.
• C. Difficile or other gastrointestinal infection that may manifest with diarrhea.
• Use of pancreatic hormone stimulant or inhibitor (e.g. octreotide, pancreatic enzyme supplements) during or immediately prior to hospital admission.
• Any other reason that the treating or investigator team considers to be a contraindication to enteral nutrition.