The Effects of Gastrointestinal Function on the Incidence of Ventilator-associated Pneumonia in Critically Ill Patients

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of gastrointestinal function on the incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) in critically ill patients. METHODS: From August 2012 to June 2016, 160 critically ill patients in the ICU (Intensive Care Unit) of our hospital were selected as the research group; patients were divided equally into an observation group and a control group, 80 patients in each group, based on the random draw envelope principle. The control group was given a nasogastric tube for gastric feeding, the observation group was given a dual lumen gastrointestinal enteral device for gastric feeding; the two groups’ enteral nutrition observation time was 7d; any changes in patient condition and prognosis were recorded. RESULTS: The pH value of gastric juice in the control group and the observation group was 6.13±1.38 and 4.01±1.83, respectively: the pH for the observation group was significantly lower than that of the control group (t=4.982, P<0.05). The incidence of VAP in the observation group and the control group was 2.5% and 12.5%, respectively: the VAP for the observation group was significantly lower than that of the control group (P<0.05). The serum levels of pre-albumin and albumin after feeding in the two groups were significantly higher than before feeding (P<0.05); the serum levels of pre-albumin and albumin in the observation group after feeding were significantly higher than those in the control group (P<0.05). The mechanical ventilation time and ICU length of stay in the observation group were 9.12±2.13 days and 12.76±1.98 days, respectively, significantly lower than those of the control group of 10.56±2.89 days and 16.33±2.11 days (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Obstacles to gastrointestinal function in critically ill ICU patients are common; enteral gastric feeding by dual lumen gastrointestinal for can improve the patient’s nutritional status, promote and maintain the normal pH value of gastric juice, thereby reducing the incidence of VAP through rehabilitation of patients.