Abstract
Purpose: To evaluate effect of a short-time infusion of semi-solid nutrients (SSN) made out of ordinary foodstuffs by a mixer for gastrostomy patients, regarding improvement of quality of life (QOL) of the patients and caretakers.
Methods: Between July 2008 and February 2013, a short-time infusion (2 to 3 min/50ml) of SSN was introduced to 66 gastrostomy patients, and they were divided into two groups; only SSN was used in Group 1 (N=21), and SSN and liquid nutrients were used in Group 2 (N=45). The results were analyzed by a retrospective chart review.
Results: After the introduction of SSN, total time of feeding was shortened from 8.0 hrs to 1.2 hrs a day in Group 1 and from 6.9 hrs to 3.2 hrs in Group 2. The number of patients passing watery or loosely formed stool decreased from14 to 3 in Group 1 and from 24 to 7 in Group 2. On the other hand, the number of patients who passed well-formed stool increased from 2 to 12 in Group 1, and from 11 to 26 in Group 2, after the introduction of SSN. There were no significant differences in the occurrence of the beneficial effects between the two groups.
Conclusion: The short-time infusion of SSN decreased the total time of daily gastrostomy nutrition and changed the watery or loosely formed stool to well-formed stool. By these effects, it improved QOL of the patients and caretakers. The favorable effects were obtained similarly in the patients who used SSN alone and a combination of SSN and liquid nutrients.
