A novel method to assist nasogastric tube insertion

Area of Science:

• Medical Devices
• Emergency Medicine
• Critical Care

Background:

• Nasogastric tube (NGT) insertion can be challenging in intubated patients due to swallowing difficulties and endotracheal tube cuff interference.
• NGTs may coil in the oral cavity, complicating placement.
• Previous research suggests rigid tubes are more effective than flexible ones for NGT insertion.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of a water-fill method for increasing nasogastric tube (NGT) rigidity.
• To determine if the water-fill method facilitates NGT insertion in intubated patients.

Main Methods:

• A comparative study involving 66 intubated patients undergoing rapid sequence induction in the emergency department.
• Patients were divided into two groups: water-fill method (n=31) and traditional method (control, n=35).
• Successful NGT insertion was defined as placement in two or fewer attempts.

Main Results:

• The water-fill group achieved a significantly higher success rate (93.5%) compared to the control group (65.7%).
• The difference in successful NGT insertions between the groups was statistically significant (p<0.01).

Conclusions:

• The water-fill method is a simple, fast, and effective technique for facilitating nasogastric tube insertion in intubated patients.
• This method offers a practical solution to improve NGT placement success rates in challenging clinical scenarios.