Value of fluoroscopic assistance during transpyloric intubation

Blind insertion of a weighted nasoenteric tube (NET) has a low chance of immediate duodenal intubation and may cause serious complications. This study used fluoroscopic assistance to facilitate the passage of an NET to the duodenum. The success rate and complications were compared to those for NET insertion without fluoroscopy. Blind passage of a weighted feeding tube was associated with a 15% success rate in 13 patients; by contrast, fluoroscopic assistance allowed 95% of 20 patients to be intubated successfully in an average of 14 +/- 12 min. Although blind insertion caused intrabronchial intubation in two patients, there were no complications associated with fluoroscopy.