The effect of abdominal massage on ventilator- associated pneumonia and excretion induced by enteral feeding in patients receiving mechanical ventilation

Aims: The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of abdominal massage on ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) and excretion induced by enteral feeding in patients receiving mechanical ventilation (MV). Material and Method: This randomized controlled experimental study was conducted in the Brain Surgery and Anesthesiology and Reanimation intensive care units of Atatürk University Health Research and Application Center Hospital between August 2015 and June 2017. Sampling method was used in the study, the whole population was tried to be reached and the study was conducted with study. The sample involved 74 patients determined by randomization method. The study was completed with 63 patients (31 experimental, 32 control) since eleven patients had the exclusion criteria. After the data of the study were collected, the power analysis was carried out to determine the adequacy of the sample size and the sample size was determined to be enough. Form of descriptive characteristics, patient follow-up form, Bristol stool chart, and mouth analysis scale were used for data collection. 48 hours after the patients were attached to MV, they were visited twice a day for 3 days and the forms were administered. Abdominal massage was administered to patients in experimental study twice a day for 15 minutes before the morning and night care hours. Percentage distribution, chi square test, independent samples t test, Mann-Whitney U test, analysis of variance with repeated measures, McNemar, Tukey, Z and Fridman tests were used to assess the data. Results: In between-groups measurements, gastric residual volume, vomiting, and abdominal distention were lower, stool consistency was close to normal, and defecation frequency was more in experimental group compared to control group. The difference between the groups was statistically significant (p<0.05). In within-group evaluations, gastric residual volume, abdominal distension, and VAP were lower in experimental group than control group. The within-group difference was statistically significant (p<0.05). Conclusion: It was determined that abdominal massage decreased VAP development and regulated the excretion. Based on this result, it can be recommended to apply the abdominal massage in patients enterally fed and receiving MV.