The present study was designed to evaluate the tolerance of enteral feeding in, enterally-fed mechanic('Ely-ventilated patients during supine and prone positions as judged by measuring the residual gastric volume (RGV) and comprised 23 patients admitted to ICU. AU patients were'maintained on enteral feeding at a rate of 60 rn1/ hour for 6 hours and immediately after the 6-hr period. RGV was determined and patient was turned to the other position and enteral feeding was continued for another 6 hours and at the end of which RGV was re-estimated. All patients Were managed in both positions with head elevated for a maximum of 300 and the study was conducted in supine position first and then patients were turned to prone position. There was a non-significant increase in RGV in prone position compared to that estimated in supine position. Only 4 patients had RGV of >150 ml in both positions, while the other 19 patients had a mean RGV of <150 ml, with a non-significant increase in RGV in prone compared to supine position. Three patients were sedated in the prone position but not in the supine position, however, the mean RGV in sedated patients showed a non-significant increase compared to non-sedated patients with a non-significant increase in RGV in prone compared to that estimated in supine position in either sedated or non-sedated. It could be conch itipd that postural change of enterally-fed patient from supine to prone do not significantly 'alter gastric emptying as judged by RGV estimation and is recommended whenever indicated. |
