Effect of abdominal massage on prevention of aspiration in intubated and enterally fed patients: A randomized controlled trial.

Background Aspiration is a serious side effect of delayed gastric emptying and increased residual volume in intensive care patients. Aspiration can increase the risk of pneumonia and death. Currently, pharmaceutical methods are the most commonly used techniques for decreasing aspiration, but non-pharmaceutical methods may also be effective in reducing aspiration. One of these methods is an abdominal massage. The present study aimed to examine the effect of abdominal massage on aspiration incidence in intensive care patients with an endotracheal tube. Methods This study was a randomized controlled clinical trial. Seventy intensive care patients with an endotracheal tube were chosen by convenience sampling and allocated to an intervention or a control group by the minimization method. The intervention group was provided with a 15-min abdominal massage twice a day for 3 days, while the control group received only routine cares. The patients' respiratory secretion was suctioned before and after the intervention, and immediately after suctioning, the incidence of the aspiration was assessed using special strips which are sensitive to respiratory secretion pH and glucose. SPSS 18 was used to analyze data. Descriptive statistics were used. T independent, Mann-Whitney U, χ2, and Fisher exact tests were used to compare two groups. Results The incidence rates of the aspiration were 5.7% (confidence interval: 0.0-14.3%) and 20% (confidence interval: 8.6-34.3%) in the abdominal massage and the control groups, respectively. The incidence of aspiration differed between two groups, but it was not statistically significant (p=0.07). Conclusion Although the low rate of aspiration in the abdominal massage group did not differ significantly with that of the control group, it can be clinically important. It is suggested that further studies be conducted to confirm the effect of abdominal massage on the prevention of aspiration in intensive care patients with an endotracheal tube.

Does abdominal massage improve gastrointestinal functions of intensive care patients with an endotracheal tube?: A randomized clinical trial.

INTRODUCTION: Gastrointestinal dysfunction is one of the most common problems among patients hospitalized in intensive care units. Currently, medicinal and non-medicinal methods are being used to prevent gastrointestinal problems. Among non-medicinal methods, abdominal massage is considered as a relatively acceptable method. The present study aims to examine the effect of abdominal massage on gastrointestinal functions of the intensive care patients with an endotracheal tube. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this clinical trial, 70 intensive care patients with an endotracheal tube were chosen by convenience sampling and allocated to an intervention or a control group randomly. In the intervention group, a 15-min abdominal massage was conducted twice a day for three days, while the control group received only routine cares. The abdominal circumference, gastric residual volume, times of defecation, and frequency of constipation were measured. RESULTS: Gastric residual volume decreased significantly in the intervention group and increased significantly in the control group; however, there was no significant difference between two groups (P = .15). There was a significant difference between two groups regarding abdominal circumference and it was decreased in the intervention group (P < .001). The defecation times significantly increased in the intervention group (P = .002). After the intervention, the prevalence of constipation was significantly decreased in the intervention group (P = .008). CONCLUSION: The results revealed that abdominal massage could improve gastrointestinal functions in enterally fed patients with an endotracheal tube. It is suggested to use abdominal massage as an adjunct therapy for improving gastrointestinal functions in intensive care patients.