Jejunal feeding in the absence of reflux increases nasogastric output in critically ill trauma patients.
Nasojejunal feeding of trauma patients is becoming a common practice. Aspiration rate comparisons between jejunal versus gastric-fed patients have been shown to be equal. We performed a retrospective evaluation of gastric output in 51 trauma patients who tolerated initiation and advancement of nasojejunal feedings. Gastric output was measured in the absence of reflux of feeds. Gastric output was compared over a 24-hour interval before initiation of feeds and after advancement to nutritionally complete levels. The increase in gastric output was found to be significant [301.9 +/- 19.8 mL/day before feeds, 587.8 +/- 47.1 mL/day (P = 0.01) after advancement of feeds]. The overall documented pulmonary aspiration rate in these patients was 5.9 per cent. Because of this significant increase in gastric output, nasogastric residual check should be performed routinely in patients receiving nasojejunal feeding.
Chendrasekhar
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Department of Surgery, West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, USA.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D003422:Critical Care; D004750:Enteral Nutrition / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005769:Gastrointestinal Motility; D006801:Humans; D007583:Jejunum; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000628:therapy*