title: Effect of a bulk-forming cathartic on diarrhea in tube-fed patients.
abstract: Diarrhea is a significant complication for the patient being tube-fed. The purpose of this study was to observe whether giving a bulk-forming cathartic to patients receiving enteral nutrition via nasogastric or nasoduodenal tube would result in firmer stools for these patients. Forty-nine patients in a large medical center were randomly assigned to either a control or an experimental group. During the 6-day study period 1 teaspoon (5 ml) of psyllium preparation was administered through the feeding tube three times a day. Data were analyzed by using the Mann-Whitney U test for nonparametric data. The hypothesis that giving a bulk-forming cathartic would lead to firmer stools was supported at an alpha level of less than 0.01. The results of this study suggest that use of a bulk-forming cathartic in tube-fed patients will significantly reduce the diarrhea associated with this type of feeding.
authors.affiliation: Portland Veterans Affairs Medical Center, OR 97201.
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Heather
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Howell
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Montana
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Howell
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hill
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D004750:Enteral Nutrition / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000451:nursing; D005516:Food Microbiology; D006801:Humans; D007787:Lactose Intolerance / Q000150:complications; D008875:Middle Aged; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D011620:Psyllium / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D011620:Psyllium