Final answer:
Gastric residual volume should be checked before each intermittent feeding in patients to assess GI tolerance and prevent complications such as aspiration pneumonia.
Step-by-step explanation:
When managing patients on intermittent feedings, it is important to check the gastric residual volume (GRV) to ensure proper gastrointestinal (GI) tolerance to the feedings. In clinical practice, GRV is checked before administering each intermittent feeding. If the GRV is too high, typically above 250-500 ml depending on institutional protocols, it might indicate delayed gastric emptying, and thus the next feeding may be delayed or withheld, and medical evaluation is considered.
Assessing gastric residual volume aids in preventing complications such as aspiration pneumonia by ensuring that the patient's GI system is absorbing the nutrition adequately. This assessment also helps healthcare providers make decisions regarding the adequacy of feeding rates and the need for further diagnostic evaluation or intervention.