Why place an ng tube

Placement of the catheter can induce gagging or vomiting, therefore suction should always be ready to use in the case of this happening. Gloves must be worn while starting an NG; and if the risk of vomiting is high, the operator should consider face and eye protection as well as a gown.

Trauma protocol calls for all team members to wear gloves, face and eye protection and gowns. All necessary equipment should be prepared, assembled and available at the bedside prior to starting the NG tube.

Introduce yourself to the patient including your name and role. Because of this, we need to place a fine tube through your nose going into your stomach to allow us to provide you with nutrition.

If at any point it becomes too uncomfortable and you want me to stop, just tap on my arm. Ask the patient if they have any pain before continuing with the clinical procedure. Position the patient sitting comfortably on a chair or bed. If a patient has suffered head trauma and a base of skull fracture has not been ruled out, NG tube insertion should be avoided due to the potential risk of entering the cranial vault.

Estimate how far the NG tube will need to be inserted: measure from the bridge of the nose to the ear lobe and then down to 5cm below the xiphisternum. Continue to advance the NG tube down the oesophagus: ask the patient to take some sips of water and then swallow as this can facilitate the advancement of the NG tube. Avoid giving patients a drink if their swallow is deemed unsafe, due to the risk of aspiration.

Once you reach the desired nasogastric tube insertion length, fix the NG tube to the nose with a dressing. Once the NG tube is deemed safe for use, the radiopaque guidewire can be removed. Explain to the patient that the procedure is now complete and reassure them that the NG tube will become more comfortable over the next few hours. Dispose of used equipment, including PPE , into a clinical waste bin. Clinical Examination.

An Introduction to the Arclight. They will decompress the stomach by releasing air and liquid contents. This is important for patients with ileus, intestinal and gastric outlet obstruction. These conditions can cause vomiting, and patients are at risk of aspirating their stomach contents, which can lead to potentially lethal pneumonitis.

Nasogastric tubes may also be useful for feeding patients who have dysphagia, for example after experiencing a stroke, and also for those being who have undergone a tracheostomy. Nasojejunal tubes are longer versions of NG tubes. They are inserted under endoscopic guidance to lie further in the jejunum and may be useful in feeding patients with pancreatitis. Nursing Times Jobs has thousands of current vacancies - start your job search today! Dougherty, L. Chichester: Wiley Blackwell. Earley, T.

Nursing Times; 38, Update February Nasogastric Tube Incidents: Summary Update. London: NPSA. Stock, A. Pediatric Emergency Care; 12, Sign in or Register a new account to join the discussion. You are here: Gastroenterology. Nasogastric tubes 1: insertion technique and confirming position. For example, they might try to draw fluid out of your stomach. Or they might insert air through the tube, while listening to your stomach with a stethoscope. To keep your NG tube in place, your care provider will likely secure it to your face with a piece of tape.

They can reposition it if it feels uncomfortable. NG intubation can also help your doctor treat an intestinal obstruction in ways that are less invasive than intestinal surgery. They can also use it to collect a sample of your stomach contents for analysis, which can help them diagnose certain conditions.

This is why placement of the NG tube is checked and confirmed to be in the correct location before any other action is performed. Your NG tube can also potentially become blocked, torn, or dislodged.

This can lead to additional complications. Using an NG tube for too long can also cause ulcers or infections in your sinuses, throat, esophagus, or stomach. If you need long-term tube feedings, your doctor will likely recommend a gastrostomy tube. They can surgically implant a gastrostomy tube in your abdomen to allow food to be introduced directly into your stomach.

Ask your healthcare provider for more information about your specific treatment plan and outlook. Endotracheal intubation EI is an emergency procedure that's often performed on people who are unconscious or who can't breathe on their own.