Stress-induced disturbances of the gastro-intestinal tract in children.

The gastrointestinal tract is particularly sensitive to stress, especially in children. The specificity of the gastric, intestinal and colonic microcirculation explains the high risk of ischemia during septic and hemorrhagic shock. The consequences of digestive ischemia vary from mucosal ulceration to transmural necrosis. Tissue hypoxia, the production of superoxide radicals and luminal factors explain these lesions. Some drugs are proposed which may limit the extent of these ischemic lesions; however to prevent them the author advises, on anticipating stress and complete hemodynamic monitoring of infants at risk.