Respiratory and Gastrointestinal systems; friends or foes?

The article by Obeidat andRandhawain this issue “Gastrointestinal complications in critical care patients and effects of mechanical ventilation on the gastrointestinal tract”1is a great reminder of this important topicand a must read for ICU clinicians. The interaction between the gastro-intestinal system and the respiratory system is a tight yet not fully understoodcomplex one, and unfortunately gets overlooked.