Objective: To compare the effect of erythromycin and metoclopramide on feeding intolerance of critically ill patients in intensive care unit (ICU).
Methods: One hundred and fifty-two critically ill patients in ICU who needed early enteral nutrition exceeding 7 days between January 2007 and January 2009 were included in the study. The patients were randomly divided into three groups: erythromycin group (200 mg intravenous drip, once every 12 hours), metoclopramide group (10 mg intravenous injection, once every 8 hours), and combination therapy group. The whole experiment was carried out for 7 days. Residual gastric volume was aspirated and measured every day at 03:00, 09:00, 15:00 and 21:00. The daily mean gastric residual volume was compared. At the same time, the daily effectiveness of erythromycin and metoclopramide on the success of feeding was also compared. The factors associated with a poor response to prokinetic therapy were looked for.
Results: The daily gastric residual volume in the combination therapy group was smallest, the maximum was (40+/-8) ml; the maximum of gastric residual volume in erythromycin group was (42+/-7) ml; the maximum of gastric residual volume in metoclopramide group was (59+/-8) ml (P<0.05 or P<0.01). The successful rate of feeding was highest in the combination therapy group, and it was as high as 97.4%, the erythromycin group ranked the second (90.0%), and that of the metoclopramide group was lowest (89.5%, P<0.05 or P<0.01). Factors that were associated with a poor response to prokinetic therapy was high pretreatment 24-hour gastric residual volume (r=-0.584, P=0.000), high blood sugar level (r=-0.345, P=0.029), a high acute physiology and chronic health evaluation II (APACHEII) score (r=-0.437, P=0.005), and requirement for inotropic drug support (r=-0.389, P=0.041).
Conclusion: Low dose of erythromycin could improve the successful rate of feeding in critically ill patients in ICU. The combined administration of erythromycin and metoclopramide was more effective. Its side effect was minimal.