Effect of Abdominal Massage on Gastrointestinal Outcomes of Critical Ill Patients with Enteral Feeding

Background: Life-threatening problems are risks for critically ill patients. Moreover, they need complex care with carful coordination. In addition, nutritional support considered as fundamental aspect of a standard care of critically ill patients. Objectives: We aimed at evaluating the abdominal massage effect on gastrointestinal outcomes of critical ill patients with enteral feeding. Methods: Quasi-experimental research design was used in this study. The Swedish massage technique for abdomen was carried out twice daily for five consecutive days by the trained researcher. A convenience sample of 60 critically adult males with enteral feeding participated voluntarily in the study. Results: The results of this study revealed that, gastric residual volume was low with the study group than the control group during intervention period after abdominal massage.  Also, a significant difference was noticed in last three days of the intervention between the study and control groups. Moreover, it was indicated that abdominal distension, vomiting, and constipation were low with the study group than the control group during the five consecutive days of intervention. Conclusion: This study provides promising evidence that massage of abdomen can be used with entirely fed critically ill patients to improve their gastrointestinal outcomes. This leads to a reduction in residual volume of gastric, distension of abdomen, constipation, and vomiting.