Heat Application on Gastrointestinal System Functions

Complications related to the gastrointestinal system can occur in patients receiving enteral nutrition. These complications may include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, decreased bowel sounds, abdominal distension, increased gastric residual volume, and abdominal pain. To prevent and treat food intolerance, as well as to increase gastric emptying, the use of prokinetic agents is often preferred. However, these drugs have various side effects, such as abdominal cramps, allergies, bronchospasm, cardiac issues, and pancreatic disorders. One non-pharmacological method that can be applied to increase bowel motility and reduce abdominal distension and constipation is heat application. The aim of this study is to determine the effect of heat application to the abdominal and lumbar regions, using a hot water bag, on gastrointestinal system functions in patients receiving continuous enteral nutrition.