Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Nutrition Report
Nutrition Report
Nasogastric intubation is a medical process
involving the insertion of a plastic tube (nasogastric
tube, NG tube) through the nose, past the throat, and
down into the stomach.
Uses of NGT
The main use of a nasogastric tube is for
feeding and for administering drugs and other
oral agents such as activated charcoal.
Treatment for severe anorexia nervosa can
include nasogastric feeding to stabilize body
weight. On the other hand, NG tube can be used
for palliation of oesophageal cancer to maintain
fluid and solid intake.
Technique
Before an NG tube is inserted, the health care
provider - most often the nurse - must measure
with the tube from the tip of the patient's nose,
to their ear and down to the xyphoid process.
Then the tube is marked at this level to ensure
that the tube has been inserted far enough into
the patient's stomach.
The end of a plastic tube
is lubricated (local
anesthetic, such as 2%
xylocaine gel, may be used;
in addition, nasal
vasoconstrictor spray may
be applied before the
insertion) and inserted into
one of the patient's anterior
nares. The tube should be
directed aiming down and
back as it is moved through
the nasal cavity and down
into the throat.
When the tube enters the oropharynx and
glides down the posterior pharyngeal wall, the
patient may gag; in this situation the patient, if
awake and alert, is asked to mimic swallowing or
is given some water to sip through a straw, and
the tube continues to be inserted as the patient
swallows. Once the tube is past the pharynx and
enters the esophagus, it is easily inserted down
into the stomach.
Contraindications
The use of nasogastric intubation is
contraindicated (inadvisable) in patients with
base of skull fractures, severe facial fractures
especially to the nose and
obstructed esophagus and/or obstructed airway.
The use of an NG tube is also
contraindicated in patients who have had gastric
bypass surgery.
Complications
Minor complications include nose
bleeds, sinusitis, and a sore throat.
Sometimes more significant complications
occur including erosion of the nose where
the tube is anchored, esophageal
perforation, pulmonary aspiration, a
collapsed lung, or intracranial placement
of the tube.
Nasoduodenal Intubation
A nasoduodenal tube is a fine bore
weighted tube passed into the duodenum
via the nose which is used for short or
medium term nutritional support.
The nasoduodenal tube is particularly
indicated in patients with abnormal pylorus
function, problems with aspiration or in
patients with delayed gastric emptying.
Technique
The feeding tube has a weighted metal tip and a
guide wire for insertion
– The side hole is usually located just proximal to the tip
Tip of feeding tube should be in 2nd or 3rd portion
of duodenum
Most, however, are placed in the stomach
Placement of the tube is checked by a post-
insertion radiograph centered on the region of the
lower chest and upper abdomen
Once the guide wire is removed, it is not re-
inserted
Duodenum
Complications
• About 2% tracheopulmonary complications
• Positioning in the stomach
– If the tube is placed too proximally, there is a risk of
aspiration
• Inadvertent insertion into the tracheobronchial tree
– The tube is more likely to enter to the right main bronchus and
lower lobe bronchus because of the wider diameter and straighter
course than the left main bronchus
• Perforation of pleura by guide wire or tube
– Pneumothorax
• Intracranial placement
– Very rare
Nasojejunal Intubation
Nasojejunal feeding tube placement is
a procedure in which an x-ray monitor is
used to guide the placement of a soft
feeding tube through the nose into the
small bowel (jejunum).
Technique
Nasojejunal tube placement is performed in
the Radiology Department by an interventional
radiologist. After placing numbing medication on
the nose, a soft catheter will be passed through
the nose and guided, with the x-ray monitor, until
the tip of the catheter is located in the small
bowel. Sometimes when the soft tube does not
pass easily through the stomach, guide wires or
slightly stiffer catheters are used to try to steer
through the stomach and into the small bowel.