Gastric residual volumes have been associated with pneumonia and mortality.

• A. GRV can be correlated with pneumonia and mortality
• B. GRV has no relation to pneumonia
• C. GRV is a direct measure of gastric emptying
• D. GRV is not used in clinical practice

Answer: (A)

High gastric residual volumes show an association with pneumonia and mortality in patients receiving enteral nutrition. GRV is a snapshot of how much content remains in the stomach at a given moment and can reflect impaired gastric emptying or increased risk of regurgitation and aspiration during feeds. When residuals are large, the likelihood of aspirating gastric contents into the lungs rises, which can lead to pneumonia, and in critically ill or chronically ill patients, higher GRV often correlates with overall worse outcomes, including mortality. It’s important to note that GRV is not a direct measure of how quickly the stomach empties; it’s a one-time volume assessment influenced by timing and technique. While its use in practice varies and some guidelines question routine GRV checks, the statement about its association with pneumonia and mortality is supported by evidence. The other choices misstate the relationship, mischaracterize GRV as a direct measure of emptying, or claim it isn’t used in clinical practice.