Variation trend of gastric residual volume during continuous enteral nutrition in critical patients

Objective To explore the variation trend of gastric residual volume (GRV) during continuous enteral nutrition (EN) in critical patients by ultrasonic monitoring so as to provide a basis for standardizing GRV monitoring. Methods From November 2015 to January 2016, we selected 85 critical patients with continuous EN from three ICU in a Class Ⅲ Grade A hospital. The GRV was dynamically monitored by ultrasonic during continuous EN at different time points (0, 4, 8, 12, 16, 24 h) of feeding so as to explore its variation trend. Results The GRV of patients with continuous EN increased with the extension of feeding time. The GRV reached the peak at twelfth hour and showed a downtrend after that. There were no significant differences in GRVs at 4, 8, 12, 16 h between patients with and without mechanical ventilation (P=0.055, 0.169, 0.193, 0.154) . Conclusions The twelfth hour of feeding by daily was the important time point for GRV monitoring in patients with continuous EN. Key words: Intensive care; Critical patients; Enteral nutrition; Gastric residual volume