pH measurements as guide for establishing short-term postpyloric enteral access

Standard antiulcer regimens that use agents such as intravenous ranitidine (50 mg every 8 h) and/or intragastric antacids (30 ml every 4 h) do not seem to preclude use of pH-sensing feeding tubes in our patient population. The cost of placement ($174/successful tube) compared favorably (3-79% less) with the cost of other placement methods used at our institution. Immediate establishment of postpyloric access by this method can decrease delays in instituting nutritional support. Moreover, in patients at increased risk for aspiration, e.g., those with altered mental status, postpyloric tube placement may be beneficial in reducing aspiration occurrence. The equipment is portable and easy to operate, and the placement technique can be easily learned and performed at bedside by nurses and physicians. Whereas we feel that the sensitivity and specificity for intestinal placement are not sufficient to preclude a confirmatory radiograph, the sensitivity and specificity for intragastric placement in our study were both 100%. Our own policy is to obtain a confirmatory radiograph before institution of any nutritional therapy through a central access device (central venous catheter or feeding tube). However, depending on hospital or departmental policy, a radiograph may be unnecessary when intragastric placement is deemed adequate. Finally, this placement method may obviate the need for more intricate and expensive methods of feeding-tube placement.