COMPARATIVE STUDY OF TWO METHODS OF TUBE FEEDING IN NEUROSURGICAL PATIENTS

Pulmonary aspiration is one of the complications of tube feeding which may lead to pneumonitis, necrotic pneumonia and pulmonary abscess and therefore threats patient’s life. To determine the rate of pulmonary aspirations by two methods of tube feeding (intermittent bolus and intermittent drops). Design: This was a randomized clinical trial study in which two groups of neurosurgical patients were selected. One group received intermittent bolus and the other one had intermittent drops and then the two groups were compaired from the point of pulmonary aspiration. Sample: 74 Patients were selected consecutively and assigned randomly to one of the groups. The result indicated a significant difference between two methods of tube feeding (intermittent bolus and intermittent drops) Findings showed that the rate of pulmonary aspiration is higher in intermittent bolus than in intermittent drops. Therefore recommendation is made about usage of intermittent drops instead of intermittent bolus.