Complementary Therapies in ICU The Effect on Aspiration and Physiological Parameters in Mechanically Ventilated Patients

Abstract

Enteral feeding is a major risk factor for ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). Abdominal massage is believed to reduce residual gastric content, potentially decreasing the incidence of VAP. This study aims to evaluate the effect of abdominal massage as a complementary therapy on aspiration risk and physiological parameters in mechanically ventilated patients. An experimental research design was used. A purposive sample of 60 mechanically ventilated adult patients receiving intermittent nasogastric enteral feeding was selected. Data were collected using the Abdominal Massage Assessment tool. Physiological parameters in the study group were lower than those in the control group after receiving abdominal massage. The study concludes that abdominal massage improves patients’ physiological parameters and reduces the incidence of aspiration in enterally fed, mechanically ventilated patients.