title: Should gastric aspirate be discarded or retained when gastric residual volume is removed from gastric tubes?
abstract: Nursing care of patients with enteral feeding tubes is common in the intensive care unit but the evidence that surrounds the practice is limited. Recent research by Juve-Udina and colleagues (2010) "To return or to discard? Randomised trial on gastric residual volume management" compares two methods of managing gastric residual volume. This critique provides a brief summary of their research and critically appraises the paper. The implications for nursing practice are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Critical Care Division, Royal Perth Hospital, Perth, Western Australia, 6000, Australia. Teresa.Williams@curtin.edu.au
authors.forename: Teresa A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: Gavin D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Leslie
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D015400:Clinical Nursing Research; D003422:Critical Care / Q000379:methods*; D003657:Decision Making; D003663:Decision Trees; D004750:Enteral Nutrition / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000451:nursing*; D004868:Equipment Failure; D005260:Female; D005746:Gastric Emptying; D005766:Gastrointestinal Contents; D006801:Humans; D006943:Hyperglycemia / Q000209:etiology; D006947:Hyperkalemia / Q000209:etiology; D007441:Intubation, Gastrointestinal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000451:nursing*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D011446:Prospective Studies; D053120:Respiratory Aspiration / Q000209:etiology; D013396:Suction / Q000379:methods / Q000451:nursing