Nutrition in clinical practice : official publication of the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition
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Critically ill patients may experience delayed gastric emptying. Patients receiving enteral feeding are monitored closely to detect a delay of gastric emptying, assess feeding tolerance, and prevent aspiration pneumonia. ⋯ Several techniques are discussed: scintigraphy, paracetamol absorption test, breath tests, refractometry, ultrasound, and gastric impedance monitoring. Refractometry seems to be the most appropriate tool for the regular assessment of enteral nutrition; however, standardization and validation of this method are needed before it can be routinely used to monitor critically ill patients receiving enteral nutrition.