Feng LF, Li XW, Zhu XQ, Jin LN. Advances in management strategies for enteral nutrition-related gastric retention in adult patients with nasogastric tubes. World J Gastrointest Surg 2025; 17(3): 101751 [DOI: 10.4240/wjgs.v17.i3.101751]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Lin-Na Jin, MM, Nurse, Department of Nursing, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, No. 3 Qingchun East Road, Hangzhou 310020, Zhejiang Province, China. 3405016@zju.edu.cn
Research Domain of This Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Article-Type of This Article
Minireviews
Open-Access Policy of This Article
This article is an open-access article which was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
World J Gastrointest Surg. Mar 27, 2025; 17(3): 101751 Published online Mar 27, 2025. doi: 10.4240/wjgs.v17.i3.101751
Advances in management strategies for enteral nutrition-related gastric retention in adult patients with nasogastric tubes
Li-Fei Feng, Xiang-Wei Li, Xiao-Qiu Zhu, Lin-Na Jin
Li-Fei Feng, Xiao-Qiu Zhu, Lin-Na Jin, Department of Nursing, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310020, Zhejiang Province, China
Xiang-Wei Li, Department of Rehabilitation, Hangzhou No. 128 Hospital, Hangzhou 310007, Zhejiang Province, China
Author contributions: Feng LF and Jin LN conceptualized the study; Feng LF and Jin LN developed the methodology; Feng LF and Li XW conducted formal analysis; Feng LF and Zhu XQ curated the data; Feng LF drafted the original manuscript; Jin LN reviewed and edited the manuscript; Jin LN administered the project and acquired funding; Li XW contributed to the investigation; Jin LN supervised the study; Zhu XQ validated the results. All authors have read and approved the final manuscript.
Supported by Zhejiang Province Medical and Health Technology Planning Project, No. 2019332856.
Conflict-of-interest statement: The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this paper.
Open Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Lin-Na Jin, MM, Nurse, Department of Nursing, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, No. 3 Qingchun East Road, Hangzhou 310020, Zhejiang Province, China. 3405016@zju.edu.cn
Received: September 25, 2024 Revised: December 20, 2024 Accepted: January 14, 2025 Published online: March 27, 2025 Processing time: 151 Days and 19.9 Hours
Abstract
Gastric retention is a common complication in individuals receiving enteral nutrition (EN) via a nasogastric tube, increasing the risk of aspiration pneumonia and causing unnecessary interruptions in nutritional support. Given its clinical significance, establishing effective, evidence-based, and standardized management strategies is essential for bettering patient outcomes and mitigating complications. This review systematically synthesized the diagnostic criteria, assessment methods, influencing factors, management procedures, and intervention strategies for gastric retention in EN patients. Although no universal consensus exists regarding gastric residual volume (GRV) thresholds, evidence indicates that EN can continue at high GRV levels in the absence of gastrointestinal symptoms. Bedside ultrasound emerged as a non-invasive, and precise method GRV assessment, offering potential to standardize clinical practice. Key risk factors for gastric retention include neurological disorders and EN infusion rates exceeding 100 mL/h. Effective management strategies encompass non-pharmacological interventions, pharmacological agents, and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) therapies. This review underscored the need for integrated, multi-modal management strategies and recommended the adoption of bedside ultrasound and standardized protocols to optimize EN delivery and improve patient outcomes. Large-scale, multicenter clinical trials should be a priority for future investigation to verify the effectiveness of TCM therapies and develop personalized intervention plans for high-risk patients.
Core Tip: This study reviewed management strategies for gastric retention in adult enteral nutrition, emphasizing the need for standardized protocols. It highlighted bedside ultrasound as a novel gastric residual volume assessment method and advocated for a combination of non-pharmacological interventions, pharmacological treatments, and traditional Chinese medicine to improve patient outcomes. In addition, this review also called for further research and the implementation of personalized care plans.
