The Effect of Body Change Position on Gastric Residual Volume in Patients Undergoing Mechanical Ventilation in the Intensive Care Units of a Military Hospital

Suitable nutritional support is very important in all hospitalized patients, especially those who are hospitalized in intensive care units (ICUs). Delayed gastric emptying is one of the most common problems in patients undergoing mechanical ventilation and receiving nutrition via a feeding tube. This complication can lead to serious problems such as pneumonia and malnutrition.
This study aimed to examine the effect of body change position on gastric residual volume in patients undergoing mechanical ventilation hospitalized in the ICU.
This randomized clinical trial study was conducted on 36 patients undergoing mechanical ventilation hospitalized in ICUs in Be’sat Military Hospital in Tehran, Iran, during 2016-2017. Patients were selected using the convenience sampling method and randomly allocated into two groups. After gavage, patients in groups A and B were placed in semi-sitting and right lateral positions respectively for three hours. Then, their gastric residual volume was measured based on the Australian guideline. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics with SPSS software version 21.
The mean of gastric residual volume in the base position was 51.50±15.80 in group A and 61.88±19.17 in group B (P=0.085). The mean of gastric residual volume three hours after placing in the semi-sitting position was 49.50±15.50 in group A and after placing in the right lateral position was 59.77±19.68 in group B (P=0.091). The results of paired t-test showed a statistically significant difference in the gastric residual volume between group A (P=0.011) and group B (P=0.002) after three hours.
Discussion and The results of the study show that body change position is effective on gastric residual volume in patients hospitalized in ICUs. So, changing position of the patients is suggested in order to reduce complications such as increasing gastric residual volume in these patients. Also, further similar studies in this field are recommended.