The effects of psyllium hydrophilic mucilloid on diarrhea in enterally fed patients.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the efficacy of psyllium hydrophilic mucilloid (PHM) for prevention of diarrhea and to compare methods of PHM delivery.


METHODS
Experimental.


METHODS
University-affiliated Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center.


METHODS
Sixty patients from medical-surgical and intensive care units who received newly initiated enteral feeding via feeding tube.


METHODS
Diarrhea, stool frequency and consistency, and feeding tube obstruction.


METHODS
Receipt of PHM (7 gm, twice-daily) added to continuous feeding or given as a bolus with intermittent feeding, or receipt of No PHM for 7 days after initiation of enteral feeding.


RESULTS
Fifteen subjects (25%) developed diarrhea (defined as 3 or more liquid stools per day, or 2 or more liquid stools on successive days). There were no significant differences in incidence of diarrhea or percentage of days of diarrhea between subjects who did and did not receive PHM. However, subjects who received PHM in their continuous feedings had a significantly higher number of gelatinous stools, and the combined PHM groups had a significantly lower number of liquid stools and a higher number of normal stools than did subjects who did not receive PHM. For the combined PHM groups, there was a 12% incidence of small-bore feeding tube occlusion--requiring replacement.


CONCLUSIONS
Further study with a larger sample is necessary to evaluate trends found in this pilot study and to determine PHM efficacy for prevention of diarrhea. PHM administration may result in small-bore feeding tube obstruction, and thus requires adequate dilution and close monitoring.
Belknap
D
D
University of Oklahoma College of Nursing, Oklahoma City 73190, USA. Dorothy-Belknap@uokhsc.edu
Davidson
L J
LJ
Smith
C R
CR
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000209:etiology / Q000451:nursing / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004750:Enteral Nutrition / Q000451:nursing*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011620:Psyllium / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D011620:Psyllium