THE EFFECT OF A GINGER EXTRACT ON GASTRIC RESIDUAL VOLUME AMONG MECHANICALLY VENTILATED PATIENTS WHO HOSPITALIZED IN INTENSIVE CARE UNIT

Delayed gastric emptying among mechanically ventilated patients is common. According to evidence ginger can be accelerated gastric emptying. This study conducted to determine the effect of a ginger extract on gastric residual volume of patients hospitalized in Intensive Care Unit (ICU). This study was a double-blind randomized control clinical trial with before and after design. Twenty-four mechanically ventilated patients who hospitalized in ICU were enrolled into intervention and control groups (12 in each group). Patients were matched in items of gender and illness severity. After 48 hours gavage feeding with a standard solution among two groups; intervention and control groups respectively received 120 mg (5ml) of ginger extract and 5 ml of water as a placebo for 4 days. Residual volumes of the fifth and sixth days were recorded. Data analysis was performed using independent t-test and paired t test also significance level was determined as 0. 05. Mean gastric residual volume in first 48 hours between both groups was not significantly different. But mean and standard deviation of mean residual volume of fifth and sixth days in intervention and control groups were respectively (81/16 ± 58/24) and (09/15 ± 33/108) whichaccording the independent t test, showed significant difference (p <0.0001). Results showed that ginger extract reduces gastric residual volume compared with placebo in mechanically ventilated patients who hospitalized in ICU.