The effect of abdominal massage administered by caregivers on gastric complications occurring in patients intermittent enteral feeding – A randomized controlled trial

Abstract

IntroductionGastric intolerance is the main gastrointestinal complication during the course of enteral nutrition in critically ill patients. Abdominal massage is assumed to prevent the development of gastric intolerance by reducing residual gastric volume. This study aimed to analyze the effects of abdominal massage on excess gastric residual volume, abdominal distension, vomiting occurring in patients intermittent enteral feeding. MethodsA randomized controlled trial was conducted in the neurology and brain surgery units of a university hospital. The study sample consisted of a total of 100 patients, selected randomly to receive either abdominal massage (intervention group (n=50)) or treatment as normal (control group (n=50)). The family caregivers of the patients in the intervention group (n=50) taught abdominal massage by the researcher. Fifteen-minute abdominal massage was administered to the patients in the intervention group twice daily by the caregivers. ResultsFindings demonstrated that 8.0% of the intervention group patients compared with 34.0% of the control group patients developed high gastric residual volume (p=0.001). When the first day and last day abdominal circumference measurement results of both groups were compared, abdominal circumference was greater in the control group (p<0.05). Vomiting developed in 16.0% of the patients in the control group and in 2.0% of patients in the intervention group, and the difference between them was statistically significant (p<0.05). ConclusionsThis study revealed that abdominal massage administered to intermittent enteral fed patients reduced gastric residual volume, vomiting and abdominal distention. Abdominal massage can be taught to caregivers and can be successfully applied to patients.