The Effect of Abdominal Massage on Enteral Complications in Geriatric Patients

INTRODUCTION AND PURPOSE: Geriatric patients, who are fed by nasogastric tube (NG), may suffer from complications. Therefore, this study was conducted to evaluate the effect of abdominal massage on Gastric residual volume (GRV), distension, vomiting, and defecation in geriatric patients, who were hospitalized in intensive care unit and fed by NG. METHODS: The quasi-experimental study was conducted in intensive care units. The researcher applied abdominal massage to patients in the intervention group (n = 30) twice a day for 15–20 minutes before feeding. The data of the study were collected by using a questionnaire and a parameter questionnaire. RESULTS: GRV decreased significantly in the intervention group and increased significantly in the control group (p < 0.05). The frequency of defecation significantly increased in intervention group (p < 0.05). It was found that there was no positive effect of abdominal massage on vomiting (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: It was observed that while abdominal massage reduced high GRV and distension incidence, it increased the incidence of defecation.