Pediatr Crit Care Me
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Pediatr Crit Care Me · May 2008
Randomized Controlled TrialUse of methylene blue spectrophotometry to detect subclinical aspiration in enterally fed intubated pediatric patients.
Enteral feeding is widely used in ventilated patients admitted to pediatric intensive care units. Although studies in adult patients have shown that the site of feeding (stomach vs. small intestine) may be associated with aspiration pneumonia, there are no such reports in critically ill pediatric patients. We hypothesized that in intubated pediatric patients, there was no difference in the frequency of aspiration between nasogastric and postpyloric enteral feeding. ⋯ Use of nasogastric feeding shortens the time needed to reach nutritional goals and reduces the number of radiographic studies. Nasogastric feeding demonstrates no increase in aspiration compared with postpyloric feeding in intubated pediatric patients.