Fig. 1
From: Do we need new prokinetics to reduce enteral feeding intolerance during critical illness?
Potential pharmacological targets to treat critical illness-associated gastric motility dysfunction. During critical illness availability of acetylcholine to stimulate gastric smooth muscle is lower due to modulation of vagal tone and reduced levels of serotonin, motilin, and ghrelin resulting in reduced gastric emptying rate. Drugs that increase acetylcholine availability and receptor agonists of these (enteric) hormones may have potential prokinetic activity. Selective receptor blockers of opioids (in case of opioid use) and cholecystokinin or dopamine are other potential promotility agents