Gastroesophageal reflux in intubated patients receiving enteral nutrition: effect of supine and semirecumbent positions.
The incidence of gastroesophageal reflux (GER) in critically ill patients as well as the effect of a nasogastric tube (NGT) and body position as risk factors for GER were determined. Seventy patients with orotracheal intubation receiving enteral nutrition through a NGT for more than 48 hours were prospectively studied with two randomly assigned body positions: supine or semirecumbent. Detection of GER was achieved by scintigraphy after labeling gastric contents with 500 microCi of technetium-99m sulfur colloid administered through the NGT. In 50 patients scintigraphy was performed after subjects had remained in the randomized position for 2 hours with the NGT pinched. Twenty additional patients were studied after the NGT had been removed. In 50 patients with NGT, GER was present in 74% (37 of 50) and was higher in the supine position (81%, 21 of 26) than in the semirecumbent position (67%, 16 of 24), but this difference was not statistically significant (p = .26). In 20 patients without NGT, the incidence of GER was 35% (7 of 20) and it was also higher in the supine (50%, 6 of 12) than in the semirecumbent position (12%, 1 of 8, p = .16). There was a statistically significant difference between GER in patients with and without NGT (74% vs 35%, p = .0002). These data show that there is a high incidence of GER in patients with orotracheal intubation and NGT. The presence of a NGT is a risk factor for GER. Semirecumbency does not prevent GER, but there is less incidence than in the supine position.
Ibáñez
J
J
Intensive Care Unit, Hospital Son Dureta, Palma de Mallorca, Spain.
Peñafiel
A
A
Raurich
J M
JM
Marse
P
P
Jordá
R
R
Mata
F
F
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004750:Enteral Nutrition; D005260:Female; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007441:Intubation, Gastrointestinal; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011187:Posture; D012307:Risk Factors; D016683:Supine Position