Gastric Residual Volume Measurement: Necessary for Safe Practice?

Many years ago, I was inspired by an article in Critical Care Nurse that challenged readers to embrace evidence-based practice as the norm so that excellent practice could become the standard of care for critical care nurses.¹  Almost a decade later, clinical practices shown by research to be unhelpful and possibly harmful continue to be used in our intensive care units.^1,2  Nurses must embrace research to answer clinical questions, promote clinical thinking and decision-making, and establish protocols that enhance patient care. We must let go of long-held beliefs and move toward practice that is validated, reliable, and based in evidence where evidence exists.² 

This column will explore the merits of measuring gastric residual volumes (GRV) to verify nasogastric tube placement (NGT), evaluate gastric emptying, and assess risk for other conditions such as necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) or aspiration in critically ill children.

Historically, measurement of gastric...