Why do you check gastric residual?

Gastric residual is checked to assess the volume and nature of contents remaining in the stomach after a meal. It is typically performed in critically ill patients or those with gastrointestinal motility disorders to monitor feeding tolerance and prevent complications such as aspiration pneumonia. Here are several reasons why gastric residual is checked:

1. Aspiration risk: Critically ill patients may have impaired gag reflex and decreased consciousness, increasing the risk of aspiration. Checking gastric residual helps determine if there is a significant amount of undigested food or fluid in the stomach, which could be aspirated into the lungs during mechanical ventilation or spontaneous breathing.

2. Feeding intolerance: Monitoring gastric residual can indicate whether a patient is tolerating enteral nutrition or oral feeding. If the gastric residual volume is consistently high, it may suggest feeding intolerance, which could lead to nausea, vomiting, abdominal distension, and other complications.

3. Monitoring gastric motility: Gastric residual check can provide insights into the functioning of the gastric emptying mechanism. Delayed gastric emptying, a condition where the stomach takes longer than usual to empty its contents, can be identified by elevated gastric residual volumes.

4. Adjustment of feeding protocols: Based on the gastric residual findings, healthcare professionals can make informed decisions about the appropriate feeding rate, formula type, and meal frequency to ensure optimal nutrition while minimizing the risk of aspiration.

5. Early detection of complications: Checking gastric residual can help detect post-operative complications such as ileus, paralytic ileus, or bowel obstruction. These conditions can cause significant gastric retention and may require medical intervention.

6. Guiding medication administration: Some medications, particularly those that slow gastric emptying, may impact the absorption and effectiveness of other medications. Monitoring gastric residual can help healthcare providers adjust medication dosing and timing accordingly.

7. Research and clinical studies: Gastric residual measurements play a role in clinical research and nutrition studies to evaluate the efficacy of different feeding strategies and interventions in specific patient populations.