The effect of abdominal massage on enteral nutrition tolerance in patients on mechanical ventilation: A Randomized Controlled Study.

OBJECTIVE: To assess whether abdominal massage impacts enteral feeding tolerance in mechanically ventilated patients. METHODS: Patients were randomized to receive standard or intervention care (standard care plus a 15-minute abdominal massage twice daily) for three days. We recorded the vomiting, reflux, gastric retention, aspiration, diarrhea, abdominal distension, gastric residual volume and abdominal circumference from days one to three. A P-value of less than 0.05 was statistically significant. RESULTS: Seventy-four patients (37 per group) were recruited (intervention vs control: age 58.03 ± 10.44 vs 55.33 ± 12.45 years; %M: 69.70 % vs 69.70 %). The aspiration, gastric retention and abdominal distension incidence in the intervention group was 3.03 %, 6.06 % and 9.09 %, whereas in the control group it was 24.24 %, 30.30 % and 27.27 % (P <.05). The vomiting, reflux and diarrhea incidence for patients in the intervention group were all 3.03 %, whereas in the control group they were 3.03 %, 9.09 % and 9.09 % (P >.05). From day 1 to day 3, the gastric residual volume decreased from 87.23 ± 3.29 mL to 72.59 ± 5.40 mL in the intervention group and increased from 91.94 ± 3.45 mL to 105.00 ± 6.94 mL in the control group. Similarly, the abdominal circumference decreased from 84.41 ± 1.73 cm to 82.44 ± 1.73 cm in the intervention group and increased from 87.90 ± 1.60 cm to 88.90 ± 1.75 cm in the control group. The differences in time, group, and interaction effects between the two groups were statistically significant for abdominal circumference and gastric residual volume (P <.05). CONCLUSIONS: Abdominal massage can effectively reduce gastric retention, abdominal distension, aspiration, gastric residual volume and abdominal circumference in mechanically ventilated patients, but not the incidence of vomiting, reflux and diarrhea.

Usage of Chinese Herbs in Cancer Patients in Southern China: A Survey.

OBJECTIVE: To study the use of Chinese medicine (CM) in cancer patients in southern China. METHODS: A total of 1,950 cancer patients finished questionnaires in four provinces in southern China. The survey included socio-demographic and clinical characteristics of participants, dosage forms, efficacy, and side effects. RESULTS: The study results showed that cancer patients with higher education (>12 years) were more likely to accept the treatment of Chinese herbs. There were 54.61% (1,065 cases) of patients chose Chinese herbs for the initial treatment and 14.46% (282 cases) chose Chinese herbs as monotherapy. Most patients (54.51%, 1,063 cases) continuously used CM for more than 6 months, and a few of them (212 cases) used CM for up to 3 years. All kinds of dosage forms of CM had been used, including CM decoction, CM patent prescription and CM injection. Concerning the efficacy in the view of patients, 40.31% (786 cases) believed that it would be effective to take Chinese herbs before they starting the anti-cancer treatment, and the percentage increased to 81.08% after 1-month CM treatment. The effect of Chinese herbs was mainly demonstrated by symptom relief and improvement of quality of life, and 8.31% (162 cases) of patients experienced control of tumor growth and decreased tumor markers. Furthermore, only 14.31% (279 cases) participants reported that they experienced side effects during CM treatment. CONCLUSION: This large scale investigation reflects the current situation of domestic CM usage objectively and comprehensively, which might provide new ways for cancer treatment.