. Enteral nutrition during prone positioning in mechanically ventilated patients.
Introduction: The Enteral Nutrition (EN) tends to be stopped during prone positioning to prevent the risk of acid reflux and vomiting.
Aims: To compare the gastric residual volume during continuous enteral nutrition in patients in prone and supine position.
Methods: Observational restrospective study on Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome patients, mechanically ventilated, with continuous enteral nutrition implemented according to the same protocol, in prone and supine position.
Results: The 25 patients included had a mean age of 51.13±15.93 (range: 16-80) years. Gastic residual volume was checked on 656 occasions (408 in supine and 248 in prone position). Mean infusion rate was 63.3±18.5 ml/h: 62.1±18.9 ml/h in supine and 66.2±16.5 ml/h in prone position. The mean overall gastric residual volume was 24.4±54.2 ml: 20.6±18.9 ml in supime and 23.6±50.0 ml in prone posizion. In 4 occasions (2 in prone and 2 in supine position9, the gastric residual volume was > 300ml; EN was interrupted on 1 occasion with a gastric residual volume >500ml.
Conclusions: No clinically relevant differences of gastric residual volume were observed in prone and supine position. A protocol for the management of gastric residual volume allows a safe and effective administration of EN also in patients positioned for several hours in prone position.