Is Gastric Residual Volume Measurement Really Necessary to Achieve Targeted Calories?

Abstract

Objective: Malnutrition, energy protein, and inadequate or excessive intake of other nutrients have measurable effects on tissues, body function, and clinical outcomes of patients. We aimed to determine the time to reach target calories, nutritional failures, and complications during feeding in measured and unmeasured gastric residual volume patients under ventilation in the intensive care unit. Methods: The study was completed with 62 patients under mechanical ventilatory support in the intensive care unit. According to the consultation order, patients were divided into 2 groups. Gastric residual volume was measured in the control group (gastric residual volume, n=31) and not in the other (non-gastric residual volume, n=31). Nutrition nurses continuously monitored all enteral-fed patients, and the results were recorded. Results: The feeding pause of the gastric residual volume group was longer than that of the non-gastric residual volume group (P < .001). The time to reach target calories was higher in the gastric residual volume group than in the non-gastric residual volume group (P=.010). The rate of vomiting as a complication was 9.7% (3 patients) in the gastric residual volume group and 6.5% in the non-gastric residual volume group, although the difference was not significant (P=.641). The observation rate of abdominal distension was 6.5% (2 patients) in the gastric residual volume group and the non-gastric residual volume group (P=.999). The positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) values were higher in patients who vomited, but the difference was not significant (P=.203). In patients with abdominal distension, PEEP values were higher than in patients without distension, but the difference was not significant (P=.282). Conclusion: In conclusion, gastric residual volume measurement in patients with mechanical ventilatory support prolonged nutritional breaks and extended the time required to reach target calories compared with patients without gastric residual volume measurement