Nasogastric Tube Insertion

A nasogastric tube, or NG tube, is a flexible plastic tube that is inserted through the nose, down the back of the throat and into the stomach. Large bore nasogastric tubes are used to drain stomach contents, for example in patients who have bowel obstruction; and fine bore nasogastric tubes are used to deliver nutrition or medications directly into the stomach. In this film, we will focus on the insertion of a fine bore feeding nasogastric tube. Nasogastric feeding should be considered in patients who require nutritional support, for example those who have difficulty swallowing or eating, or are at risk of malnutrition. This includes patients who have had minimal oral intake for 5 days or longer, have problems with absorption, have a high metabolic state, or high nutrient loss. Nutritional assessment is covered in another film in the Tomorrow’s Clinicians series. Nasogastric tube insertion should be avoided in patients with base of skull fractures, facial trauma, those undergoing maxillo-facial surgery, patients with oesophageal tumours, or those undergoing oesophageal surgery.

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