The clinical value of GRV in the evaluation of enteral
feeding tube tolerance has been criticized because of the
methodological problems associated with the measurement
of GRV and the interpretation of the results. Several
authors have suggested that the trend in GRV may be
more useful than use of a cutoff value and, also, that GRV
measurement must be accompanied by a clinical evaluation
before a decision ‘‘to feed or not to feed’’ is taken
[10, 24, 26]. Nevertheless, measurement of GRV is a
universally used clinical practice and investigation in this
field merits consideration. Existing data to assume a
‘‘safe’’ limit for GRV in tube-fed ICU patients are based
on expert opinions and not on clinical investigations. The
present study helps to clarify this issue.