Effect of abdominal massage on bowel evacuation in neurosurgical intensive care patients

Background: There are many factors, which affect the bowel evacuation of neurosurgical intensive care unit (NICU) patients, resulting in constipation. Aim and objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate effect of abdominal massage on bowel evacuation and the risk of constipation in NICU patients. Design: A prospective, randomized-controlled clinical trial. Methods: The sample of this study included 80 NICU patients. The patients were randomly assigned to abdominal massage and control groups. The constipation risk of all the patients was assessed with Constipation Risk Assessment Scale (CRAS). The patients in the abdominal massage group received a total of 30 minutes of massage, 15 minutes every morning and evening, until the first defecation. The bowel sounds of all patients in the abdominal massage and control groups were assessed on a daily basis. The days when bowel sounds were heard and the first defecation took place were recorded in a Bowel Evacuation Form. Results: The risk of constipation was higher in the patients in the abdominal massage (CRAS score 19.02 +/- 1.81) and control groups (CRAS score 20.45 +/- 2.61). The time of return of bowel sounds and the time of the first defecation were earlier in the abdominal massage group, compared to the control group (P <.05). In the control group, there was a weak correlation (P =.004) between the CRAS score and the time of return of bowel sounds, while there was a moderate correlation between the CRAS score and the time of the first defecation (P <.001). Conclusion: Our study results show that the risk of constipation is high in NICU patients, and abdominal massage is an effective nursing intervention to shorten the time of return of bowel sounds and the time of the first defecation. Relevance to clinical practice: Nurses can safely apply abdominal massage to improve bowel evacuation in NICU patients.

Automated summary

This study investigated the effect of abdominal massage on bowel evacuation and the risk of constipation in neurosurgical intensive care unit (NICU) patients through a prospective, randomized-controlled clinical trial. The results showed that abdominal massage shortened the time of return of bowel sounds and the time of the first defecation, indicating its effectiveness in improving bowel evacuation in NICU patients.