Abdominal Massage for Gastric Residual Volume in Surgical Patients

Marmara University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Gastric Residual Volume; Abdominal Distension; Enteral Nutrition; Massage Therapy

Treatments: Behavioral: Abdominal Massage

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT07018414

ABMGRVSICU

Details and patient eligibility

About

This randomized controlled trial aimed to evaluate the effect of abdominal massage on gastric residual volume (GRV) and abdominal distension in surgical intensive care patients receiving enteral nutrition. The intervention group received 20-minute abdominal massage sessions twice daily for 3 consecutive days. Outcomes included changes in GRV, abdominal circumference, feeding volume, and gastrointestinal tolerance parameters.

Full description

Gastric residual volume (GRV) monitoring is commonly used in critically ill patients receiving enteral nutrition to assess gastrointestinal dysfunction, although current guidelines present conflicting recommendations regarding its necessity. Abdominal distension is a frequent complication during enteral feeding in surgical ICU patients. Non-pharmacological interventions such as abdominal massage have shown promise in improving gastrointestinal motility and enteral tolerance.

This study included 84 surgical ICU patients who met the inclusion criteria and were randomly assigned to intervention (n=42) and control (n=42) groups. The intervention group received abdominal massage twice daily for 20 minutes over three days. Data were collected using standardized forms and analyzed with appropriate statistical tests including independent samples t-test, Mann-Whitney U, repeated measures ANOVA, and chi-square tests. The findings suggest that abdominal massage may help stabilize GRV levels, reduce abdominal circumference, and increase nutritional intake without increasing complications.

Enrollment: 84 patients

Sex: All

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Age ≥ 18 years
• Receiving enteral nutrition via nasogastric tube
• No prior abdominal surgery
• No invasive devices (e.g., drains, catheters) in the abdominal area

Exclusion criteria

• Receiving enteral nutrition via PEG or PEJ
• Receiving only parenteral nutrition
• History of abdominal surgery

Trial design

Primary purpose: Supportive Care

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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84 participants in 2 patient groups

Abdominal Massage Group

Experimental group

Description:

Patients in this group received abdominal massage for 20 minutes, twice daily, for three consecutive days after the initiation of enteral nutrition.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Abdominal Massage

Control Group

No Intervention group

Description:

Patients in this group received standard postoperative care without abdominal massage.