What Is Known About Methods of Correctly Placing Gastric Tubes in Adults and Children

Point-of-Care Ultrasound for Confirmation of Nasogastric and Orogastric Tube Placement in Pediatric Patients

OBJECTIVES

The aim of the study was to investigate the role of point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) as an alternative imaging modality to confirm proper placement for nasogastric tubes (NGTs) and orogastric tubes (OGTs) in pediatric patients.

METHODS

This was a prospective descriptive study performed at a tertiary care free-standing children's hospital. Patients 21 years and younger requiring radiographic confirmation of NGT or OGT placement were eligible for enrollment. Bedside ultrasonography examination of the epigastric area was performed by a blinded pediatric emergency medicine physician. An abdominal radiograph was obtained to confirm NGT or OGT placement in all patients.

RESULTS

A total of 26 patients with a mean age of 2.6 years (standard deviation, 3.9 years) were enrolled. All 26 patients had x-ray confirmation of NGT and OGTs correctly placed in the stomach. Confirmation of NGT or OGT placement by ultrasound was obtained in 23 patients. For these 23 patients, POCUS agreed with radiographic findings. For 3 patients, the NGT and OGT was unable to be identified by ultrasound. The sensitivity of ultrasound for detecting a properly placed tube was 88% (95% confidence interval, 70.0%-97.6%).

CONCLUSIONS

This pilot study described ultrasound confirmation of NGT or OGT placement. If confirmed in larger studies, POCUS can be used as an objective tool for the confirmation of NGT or OGT placement in pediatric patients and limit the need for routine x-ray confirmation.

Accuracy of the combined method (auscultation and pH measurement) and ultrasonography for confirmation of gastric tube placement: a study protocol for a prospective study

INTRODUCTION

Patients using a nasogastric tube (NGT) are vulnerable to adverse events, therefore proper assessment of these patients, verification of the correct tube placement and constant monitoring by the nursing staff are strategies that can reduce adverse events and risks associated with the care. The aim of this study will be to assess the accuracy of the combined method (auscultation and pH measurement) and ultrasonography for confirmation of gastric tube placement compared with the X-ray method. A further aim will be to measure and provide evidence for the direct costs of each method of confirming NGT placement and to evaluate the impact of each method on the mean direct cost of the patient.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

This is a prospective, single-centre study of diagnostic accuracy. Data will be collected in the clinical and surgical wards, intensive care unit and coronary care unit of a Brazilian teaching hospital. The sample will consist of 385 assessments, performed in adult patients that agree to participate in the study and that receive an NGT. The combined method and the ultrasound will be the index tests and will be performed on all study participants for later comparison with an X-ray examination, considered the reference standard and the gold standard to distinguish between gastric and pulmonary placement. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value will be calculated to assess the diagnostic accuracy of the methods investigated in this study, with Cohen's kappa analysis used to evaluate the degree of concordance.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

The study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the University of São Paulo at Ribeirão Preto College of Nursing, registration number: 83087318.4.0000.5393. The findings will be reported through academic journals, seminars and conference presentations, social media, print media, the internet and community/stakeholder engagement activities.

Orogastric intubation with dental fixation for enteral nutrition: a proof-of-concept study

In this crossover trial, we evaluated a new technique for enteral nutrition using orogastric intubation. Twelve volunteers were randomly assigned to both orogastric (OGI) and conventional nasogastric intubation (NGI) with a 15-day interval. The tip of the orogastric tube was fixed intraorally into an upper molar. Participants were asked to remain intubated for 24 hours and rated efficacy and safety using a Likert scale (1: worst / 10: best). Tolerance in hours was longer during OGI (median 21 versus 12.5; p=0.022). OGI was superior in comfort (median 7 versus 3; p=0.002), aesthetic (median 10 versus 1; p=0.002), speech (median 5.5 versus 3; p=0.014) and swallowing (median 8 versus 2; p=0.004). Both procedures were tolerated with mild local complaints. Diet volume through the tube was greater during NGI (p = 0.014). In healthy participants, orogastric intubation with dental fixation showed greater efficacy and similar safety to nasogastric intubation. CLINICAL TRIALS NUMBER: NCT03670238.

Emergency department approach to gastric tube complications and review of the literature

Nasogastric and orogastric tubes (NGT/OGT) are commonly used in emergency and critical care settings, with indications including medicinal administration, gastric decompression, and enteral feeding. Previous studies have highlighted a variety of complications associated with tube placement. These range from minor occurrences such as nose bleeds and sinusitis, to more severe cases highlighting tracheobronchial perforation, tube knotting, asphyxia, pulmonary aspiration, pneumothorax, and even intracranial insertion. Patients who suffer from these complications face additional obstacles including increased time spent in intensive care settings, healthcare associated costs, and nosocomial infections. Various bedside tests have been developed to reduce the risk of these complications, and current clinical protocol has characterized radiographic imaging as the gold standard. However, air insufflation, CO2 detection (capnography), aspirate pH testing, and point of care ultrasound (POCUS) have all been implemented with varying degrees of utility. Here we present a case involving a 60-year-old male who was brought to the ED and suffered a right sided pneumothorax (PTX) following improper OGT placement. In this case, air insufflation was utilized, but was ineffective in detecting the properly placed tube; leakage of an endotracheal tube cuff served as a lead for misplacement while imaging was conducted. The purpose of this study is not only to highlight the numerous complications that are possible with NGT and OGT placement, but also to propose the use of multiple bedside tests (pH testing, CO2 detection, POCUS) as an alternative to radiographic imaging to increase sensitivity and specificity for detection of improperly placed tubes.

The comparison of capnography and epigastric auscultation to assess the accuracy of nasogastric tube placement in intensive care unit patients

BACKGROUND

Placement of nasogastric (NG) tubes is a common procedure for patients especially in intensive care units (ICUs). Thus, it is important to determine the correct placement of the tube to prevent misplacement in the airways. Accordingly, the aim of this study was to compare the epigastric auscultation and capnography in assessing the accuracy of NG tube insertion in ICU patients.

METHODS

In this descriptive comparative study, 60 patients were selected trough convenience sampling. After insertion of the NG tube in a standard method, the accuracy of placement of the tube with both epigastric auscultation and capnography was investigated. The NG tube insertion accuracy was then confirmed via radiography. Data analysis was performed using statistical software SPSS version 23.

RESULTS

The result showed that capnography had a sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of 100, 92.5, and 95% respectively, but epigastric auscultation had 90, 80, and 83.4% respectively. The Kappa agreement coefficient between two methods was - 0.759.

CONCLUSION

The results revealed that the use of the capnography is preferable over the epigastric auscultation to confirm the correct insertion of the NG tube. It is recommended that more than one method be applied to detect and confirm the correct insertion of the NG tube.

Methods of Gastric Tube Placement Verification in Neonates, Infants, and Children: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

INTRODUCTION

The objective was to evaluate diagnostic performance of multiple methods used to assess gastric tube placement verification in neonates, infants, and children.

METHODS

A systematic review using the methods outlined in the Cochrane Handbook for Reviews of Diagnostic Test Accuracy was conducted. Eight databases were searched. Studies on neonates, infants, and children in which researchers compared different methods for gastric tube placement verification with x-ray reference standard were eligible in the review.

RESULTS

Eight studies involving 911 participants that evaluated 9 index tests for gastric tube placement verification were included. Most studies were of moderate methodological quality, and most index tests were assessed in small individual studies. pH testing with cutoff values ≤ 6 for gastric tube position confirmation was the only index test subjected to meta-analysis, with the summary sensitivity and specificity being 0.77 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.56-0.90) and 0.42 (95% CI 0.16-0.73). Other tests for gastric tube placement verification showed great variations in sensitivities and specificities.

DISCUSSION

pH ≤ 6 is not sufficiently accurate to be recommended for gastric tube placement verification in neonates, infants, and children. Diagnostic performance of pH ≤ 4 or 5 and other methods cannot be determined because of the paucity of data and methodological variations in studies. Clinical practice related to the diagnostic tests used will continue to be dictated by local preferences and cost factors, until stronger evidence becomes available.

Lose the Whoosh: An Evidence-Based Project to Improve NG Tube Placement Verification in Infants and Children in the Hospital Setting

PURPOSE

The purpose of this EBP project was to align NG and OG tube placement and verification practices with evidence-based recommendations for children.

PRACTICE CHANGE

An evidence-based NG/OG Tube Placement Algorithm was developed. The algorithm provided an individualized approach based on patient condition as well as a tiered approach that incorporated radiographs, tube measurement and marking, and pH testing.

METHODS

A systematic appraisal of literature identified 40 studies supporting the development of the practice change. A 9-item questionnaire was administered to nurses across five pediatric units to assess current tube verification practices. Education was provided in participating units through a Competency Fair. Post-implementation evaluation included re-administering the practice survey and conducting a chart audit of NG/OG events occurring in the year following the practice change.

RESULTS

Seventy-one nurses completed the pre-implementation survey; 64 nurses completed the post-implementation survey. Strategies for checking NG/OG placement varied across units prior to implementation; however, auscultation was the most likely to be used strategy and assessing pH was the least likely to be used strategy across units. Post-implementation, aspiration and checking pH were the most frequently endorsed assessment strategy, and auscultation was the least endorsed strategy. The post-implementation chart audit revealed that 73% of NG/OG tubes were checked for placement on insertion with radiograph or aspirate pH.

CONCLUSIONS

Implementation of an NG/OG Tube Placement Algorithm standardized NG/OG care across five pediatric units. Additional efforts are underway to further improve adherence to protocol in order to ensure safe, evidence-based practice for children with NG/OG tubes.

Verifying the Placement of Nasogastric Tubes at an Emergency Center: Comparison of Ultrasound with Chest Radiograph

The objective of this study was to verify the nasogastric tube position with neck ultrasound and subxiphoid ultrasound, by giving air-water mixture and auscultation and to compare the effectiveness of these methods with chest radiography. This is a single-center, prospective, single-blind study. Patients who were admitted to our emergency department and had an indication of nasogastric tube placement were included. Nasogastric tube localization was verified with neck ultrasound and subxiphoid ultrasound, by giving air-water mixture, auscultation, and direct radiography that was accepted as the ‘gold standard technique'. A total of 49 patients (27 Male, 22 Female) with a mean age of 58.3±22.7 years were included. Sensitivity of neck ultrasound was 91.5%, and positive predictive value was 100%. As for the subxiphoid ultrasound sensitivity was 78.72%. When neck ultrasound + subxiphoid ultrasound and giving water-air mixture were combined sensitivity reached 95.74%. Sensitivity of neck ultrasound + subxiphoid ultrasound + air-water mixture + auscultation was 97.87% and positive predictive value was 100%. In the light of our results, neck and subxiphoid ultrasound seem to be an alternative method for verifying nasogastric tube localization. Combination of the air-water mixture and auscultation with ultrasound improves the sensitivity.

Pediatric Nasogastric Tubes in the Home: Recommendations for Practice

One of the dilemmas facing home healthcare nurses is the placement of a nasogastric tube (NGT) in the home setting coupled with being assured and confident that the NGT tip is in the correct position, that is, the stomach. There are very limited data to address the issue of management of an NGT in the home care setting with even less guidance for the pediatric population. Therefore, home healthcare nurses must use agency policy and procedures coupled with their own education, knowledge, experience, and skills when performing this procedure. These may vary from agency to agency, thus providing inconsistencies in teaching and techniques.

Comparison of Neonatal Nursing Practices for Determining Feeding Tube Insertion Length and Verifying Gastric Placement With Current Best Evidence

BACKGROUND

Oral-nasogastric feeding tubes (FTs) are often malpositioned, placing infants at risk for complications. Confusion exists regarding the accuracy of methods to determine FT insertion length and verify gastric FT placement, and it is unknown whether evidence-based methods are used by neonatal nurses.

PURPOSE

To compare individual and unit-based neonatal nursing practices regarding methods used to determine FT insertion length and verify gastric FT placement.

METHODS

Neonatal nurses were surveyed about individual and unit-based practices regarding methods used to determine FT insertion length and verify gastric FT placement in infants in the neonatal intensive care unit.

RESULTS

Sixty neonatal nurses completed the survey, with 63% utilizing the nose-ear-midway to the umbilicus method, which was included in 50% of protocols and is associated with up to a 90% accuracy rate. Although it has an unacceptably high inaccuracy rate, the nose-to-ear-to-xiphoid method was used by 32% of nurses and recommended in 30% of protocols. To verify gastric FT placement, 98% of nurses used auscultation of a whoosh sound and 83% used aspiration of gastric contents. Neither verification method is supported by evidence or recommended for use.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

A lack of consistency exists between nursing practice and evidence-based methods.

IMPLICATIONS FOR RESEARCH

Research is needed to determine more accurate and reliable ways to determine FT insertion depth and verify gastric FT placement in neonates.

Nutritional Care in Iranian Intensive Care Units

Intensive care units (ICUs) provides intensive treatment medicine to avoid complications such as malnutrition, infection and even death. As very little is currently known about the nutritional practices in Iranian ICUs, this study attempted to assess the various aspects of current nutrition support practices in Iranian ICUs. We conducted a cross-sectional study on 150 critically ill patients at 18 ICUs in 12 hospitals located in 2 provinces of Iran from February 2015 to March 2016. Data were collected through interview with supervisors of ICUs, medical record reviews and direct observation of patients during feeding. Our study showed that hospital-prepared enteral tube feeding formulas are the main formulas used in Iranian hospitals. None of the dietitians worked exclusively an ICU and only 30% of patients received diet counselling. Regular monitoring of nutritional status, daily energy and protein intake were not recorded in any of the participating ICUs. Patients were not monitored for anthropometric measurements such as mid-arm circumference (MAC) and electrolyte status. The nasogastric tube was not switched to percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy or jejunostomy (PEG/PEGJ) in approximately 85% of patients receiving long-term enteral nutrition (EN) support. Our findings demonstrated that the quality of nutritional care was inappropriate in Iranian ICUs and improvement of nutritional care services within Iranian ICUs is necessary.

Posicionamento de sonda enteral em neonatos segundo técnica modificada de mensuração

Resumo Objetivo: Avaliar a efetividade da mensuração de sonda enteral pela técnica modificada, nariz - orelha - apêndice xifoide, com desconto dos orifícios distais da sonda, para posicionamento na câmara gástrica de neonatos. Métodos: Estudo prospectivo, desenvolvido em unidade neonatal de um hospital de ensino do município de São Paulo, a partir da análise radiográfica de 60 radiografias de 28 neonatos em uso de sonda enteral mensurada pela técnica modificada, submetidos à radiografia toracoabdominal. Resultados: O índice de posicionamento correto, de acordo com a análise por posições, foi de 68,3% e 71,7%, segundo os avaliadores 1 e 2, respectivamente, enquanto na análise por vértebras, 95% das sondas estavam adequadamente locadas na câmara gástrica. Ocorreu associação estatisticamente significante entre estatura e localização da sonda enteral, segundo o avaliador 2. Conclusão: A técnica de mensuração avaliada apresenta risco para posicionamento inadequado da sonda enteral utilizada em neonatos, devendo ser desencorajada sua aplicação na prática clínica.

Current Practices in Home Management of Nasogastric Tube Placement in Pediatric Patients: A Survey of Parents and Homecare Providers

Enteral feeding tubes are used in pediatric patients to deliver nutrition, fluids or medications. The literature related to short-term feeding tube (nasogastric [NG], hereafter known as NGT, or orogastric [OGT],) use in pediatric homecare patients is sparse. This descriptive study sought to gather baseline information about these children and how their feeding tubes are managed at home. Specifically, we sought to better understand how the tubes are placed and the method(s) used for tube placement verification. Two surveys were distributed: one to parents and one to homecare providers who have direct patient contact.

RESULTS

Responses were obtained from 144 parents and 66 homecare providers. Over half of the children were 12months of age or younger and had a 6 Fr feeding tube. Over 75% (108) had an NGT for 1year or less. Predominantly parents replaced the NGT but a few children self-inserted their tubes. Feeding tube placement was verified by auscultation (44%) or measurement of gastric pH (25%) in the parent's survey. Twenty-six percent of parents indicated they had misplaced an NGT at least once and 35 parents described symptoms of pulmonary misplacement. The homecare provider data indicated auscultation (39%) and pH measurement of gastric contents (28%) to verify NG tube placement location. Study results confirms a need for consistency of practice among health care professionals and in parent education for those children who require NGTs at home. It is troubling that auscultation is still widely used for NGT location confirmation despite practice alerts that warn against its use.

ASPEN Safe Practices for Enteral Nutrition Therapy [Formula: see text]

Enteral nutrition (EN) is a valuable clinical intervention for patients of all ages in a variety of care settings. Along with its many outcome benefits come the potential for adverse effects. These safety issues are the result of clinical complications and of process-related errors. The latter can occur at any step from patient assessment, prescribing, and order review, to product selection, labeling, and administration. To maximize the benefits of EN while minimizing adverse events requires that a systematic approach of care be in place. This includes open communication, standardization, and incorporation of best practices into the EN process. This document provides recommendations based on the available evidence and expert consensus for safe practices, across each step of the process, for all those involved in caring for patients receiving EN.

Deadly pressure pneumothorax after withdrawal of misplaced feeding tube: a case report

Background

Many patients have a nasogastric feeding tube inserted during admission; however, misplacement is not uncommon. In this case report we present, to the best of our knowledge, the first documented fatality from pressure pneumothorax following nasogastric tube withdrawal.

Case presentation

An 84-year-old Caucasian woman with dysphagia and at risk of aspiration underwent routine insertion of a nasogastric feeding tube; however, shortly after insertion she developed respiratory distress. A chest X-ray showed the tube had been misplaced into our patient’s right lung. The tube was removed, but our patient died less than an hour after withdrawal. The autopsy report stated that cause of death was tension pneumothorax, which developed following withdrawal of the misplaced feeding tube.

Conclusions

The indications for insertion of nasogastric feeding tubes are many and the procedure is considered harmless; however, if the tube is misplaced there is good reason to be cautious on removal as this can unmask puncture of the pleura eliciting pneumothorax and, as this case report shows, result in an ultimately deadly tension pneumothorax.

Examining the evidence to guide practice: challenging practice habits

Nurses are the largest segment of the nation's health care workforce, which makes nurses vital to the translation of evidence-based practice as a practice norm. Critical care nurses are in a position to critically appraise and apply best evidence in daily practice to improve patients' outcomes. It is important for critical care nurses to continually evaluate their current practice to ensure that they are applying the current best evidence rather than practicing on the basis of tradition. This article is based on a presentation at the 2013 National Teaching Institute of the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses. Four practice interventions that are within the realm of nursing are critiqued on the basis of current best evidence: (1) turning critically ill patients, (2) sleep promotion in the intensive care unit, (3) feeding tube management in infants and children, and (4) prevention of venothromboembolism…again. The related beliefs, current evidence, and implications for practice associated with each topic are described.

Aspiration and evaluation of gastric residuals in the neonatal intensive care unit: state of the science

The routine aspiration of gastric residuals (GR) is considered standard care for critically ill infants in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Unfortunately, scant information exists regarding the risks and benefits associated with this common procedure. This article provides the state of the science regarding what is known about the routine aspiration and evaluation of GRs in the NICU focusing on the following issues: (1) the use of GRs for verification of feeding tube placement, (2) GRs as an indicator of gastric contents, (3) GRs as an indicator of feeding intolerance or necrotizing enterocolitis, (4) the association between GR volume and ventilator-associated pneumonia, (5) whether GRs should be discarded or refed, (6) the definition of an abnormal GR, and (7) the potential risks associated with aspiration and evaluation of GRs. Recommendations for further research and practice guidelines are also provided.

Nasogastric tube placement and verification in children: review of the current literature

Placement of a nasogastric enteral access device (NG-EAD), often referred to as a nasogastric tube, is a common practice and largely in the domain of nursing care. Most often an NG-EAD is placed at the bedside without radiographic assistance. Correct initial placement and ongoing location verification are the primary challenges surrounding NG-EAD use and have implications for patient safety. Although considered an innocuous procedure, placement of an NG-EAD carries risk of serious and potentially lethal complications. Despite acknowledgment that an abdominal radiograph is the gold standard, other methods of verifying placement location are widely used and have success rates from 80% to 85%. The long-standing challenges surrounding bedside placement of NG-EADs and a practice alert issued by the Child Health Patient Safety Organization on this issue were the stimuli for the conception of The New Opportunities for Verification of Enteral Tube Location Project sponsored by the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition. Its mission is to identify and promote best practices with the potential of technology development that will enable accurate determination of NG-EAD placement for both the inpatient and outpatient pediatric populations. This article presents the challenges of bedside NG-EAD placement and ongoing location verification in children through an overview of the current state of the science. It is important for all healthcare professionals to be knowledgeable about the current literature, to be vigilant for possible complications, and to avoid complacency with NG-EAD placement and ongoing verification of tube location.

Nasogastric tube placement and verification in children: review of the current literature

Placement of a nasogastric enteral access device (NG-EAD), often referred to as a nasogastric tube, is common practice and largely in the domain of nursing care. Most often an NG-EAD is placed at the bedside without radiographic assistance. Correct initial placement and ongoing location verification are the primary challenges surrounding NG-EAD use and have implications for patient safety. Although considered an innocuous procedure, placement of an NG-EAD carries risk of serious and potentially lethal complications. Despite acknowledgment that an abdominal radiograph is the gold standard, other methods of verifying placement location are widely used and have success rates from 80% to 85%. The long-standing challenges surrounding bedside placement of NG-EADs and a practice alert issued by the Child Health Patient Safety Organization on this issue were the stimuli for the conception of The New Opportunities for Verification of Enteral Tube Location Project sponsored by the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition. Its mission is to identify and promote best practices with the potential of technology development that will enable accurate determination of NG-EAD placement for both the inpatient and outpatient pediatric populations. This article presents the challenges of bedside NG-EAD placement and ongoing location verification in children through an overview of the current state of the science. It is important for all health care professionals to be knowledgeable about the current literature, to be vigilant for possible complications, and to avoid complacency with NG-EAD placement and ongoing verification of tube location.

Potential risk of malposition of nasogastric tube using nose-ear-xiphoid measurement

BACKGROUND

Correct placement of nasogastric tubes provide proper functionality and maximize benefit and minimize risk. The Nose-Ear-Xiphoid (NEX) body surface estimate method is a long-lasting technique, and this study was conducted to evaluate the correlation between NEX method and the secure insertion depth of nasogastric tube.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Thirty patients with nasogastric tube insertion who received whole body positron emission tomography with computerized tomography scan (PET-CT) were recruited. All data were gathered in the image center, which included Nose-Ear (NE), Ear-Xiphoid (EX), Nose-Ear-Xiphoid (NEX), glabella-xiphoid (GX) and glabella-umbilicus (GU) lengths. The distances of the inserted portion of the nasogastric tube between the cardiac and the nostril were measured by multiplanar reconstruction algorithm.

RESULTS

Only one patient successfully placed all side-holes into the stomach while using NEX method to estimate inserting depth. Twenty-nine patients (96.7%) failed to place correctly. Fourteen participants had one or more side-holes in both the esophagus and the stomach sides. Fifteen patients could not pass through any side-hole across the gastroesophageal junction. They had shorter EX distances (p = 0.02), but no difference among the NE distances. Body height had the highest statistical correlation with nasogastric tube length (adjusted R(2) = 0.459), as compared with the NEX, GX and GU body surface methods.

CONCLUSION

This study suggests that NEX method is inappropriate for adult patients to estimate the ideal inserting length of nasogastric tube. Physicians should realize these underinsertions with any side-hole above the gastroesophageal junctions may increase the potential risk of complications.

Comparing bedside methods of determining placement of gastric tubes in children

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to compare the accuracy and predictive validity of pH, bilirubin, and CO2 in identifying gastric tube placement errors in children.

DESIGN AND METHODS

After the tube was inserted into 276 children, the CO2 monitor reading was obtained. Fluid was then aspirated to test pH and bilirubin.

RESULTS

Lack of ability to obtain tube aspirate was the best predictor of NG/OG placement errors with a sensitivity of 34.9% and a positive predictive value of 66.7%. Measuring pH, bilirubin, and CO2 of tube aspirate was less helpful.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

Healthcare providers should suspect NG/OG tube misplacement when no fluid is aspirated.

Enteral nutrition practices in the intensive care unit: Understanding of nursing practices and perspectives

Background:

Adequate nutritional support is important for the comprehensive management of patients in intensive care units (ICUs).

Aim:

The study was aimed to survey prevalent enteral nutrition practices in the trauma intensive care unit, nurses’ perception, and their knowledge of enteral feeding.

Study Design:

The study was conducted in the ICU of a level 1 trauma center, Jai Prakash Narayan Apex Trauma Centre, AIIMS, New Delhi, India. The study design used an audit.

Materials and Methods:

Sixty questionnaires were distributed and the results analyzed. A database was prepared and the audit was done.

Results:

Forty-two (70%) questionnaires were filled and returned. A majority (38) of staff nurses expressed awareness of nutrition guidelines. A large number (32) of staff nurses knew about nutrition protocols of the ICU. Almost all (40) opined enteral nutrition to be the preferred route of nutrition unless contraindicated. All staff nurses were of opinion that enteral nutrition is to be started at the earliest (within 24–48 h of the ICU stay). Everyone opined that the absence of bowel sounds is an absolute contraindication to initiate enteral feeding. Passage of flatus was considered mandatory before starting enteral nutrition by 86% of the respondents. Everyone knew that the method of Ryle's tube feeding in their ICU is intermittent boluses. Only 4 staff nurses were unaware of any method to confirm Ryle's tube position. The backrest elevation rate was 100%. Gastric residual volumes were always checked, but the amount of the gastric residual volume for the next feed to be withheld varied. The majority said that the unused Ryle's tube feed is to be discarded after 6 h. The most preferred (48%) method to upgrade their knowledge of enteral nutrition was from the ICU protocol manual.

Conclusion:

Information generated from this study can be helpful in identifying nutrition practices that are lacking and may be used to review and revise enteral feeding practices where necessary.

Nursing administration of medication via enteral tubes in adults: a systematic review

Background  Enteral tubes are frequently inserted as part of medical treatment in a wide range of patient situations. Patients with an enteral tube are cared for by nurses in a variety of settings, including general and specialised acute care areas, aged care facilities and at home. Regardless of the setting, nurses have the primary responsibility for administering medication through enteral tubes. Medication administration via an enteral tube is a reasonably common nursing intervention that entails a number of skills, including preparing the medication, verifying the tube position, flushing the tube and assessing for potential complications. If medications are not given effectively through an enteral tube, harmful consequences may result leading to increased morbidity, for example, tube occlusion, diarrhoea and aspiration pneumonia. There are resultant costs for the health-care system related to possible increased length of stay and increased use of equipment. Presently what is considered to be best practice to give medications through enteral tubes is unknown. Objectives  The objective of this systematic review was to determine the best available evidence on which nursing interventions are effective in minimising the complications associated with the administration of medications via enteral tubes in adults. Nursing interventions and considerations related to medication administration included form of medication, verifying tube placement before administration, methods used to give medication, methods used to flush tubes, maintenance of tube patency and specific practices to prevent possible complications related to the administration of enteral medications. Search strategy  The following databases were searched for literature reported in English only: CINAHL, MEDLINE, The Cochrane Library, Current Contents/All Editions, EMBASE, Australasian Medical Index and PsychINFO. There was no date restriction applied. In addition, the reference lists of all included studies were scrutinised for other potentially relevant studies. Selection criteria  Systematic reviews of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and RCTs that compared the effectiveness of nursing interventions and considerations used in the administration of medications via enteral tubes. Other research methods, such as non-randomised controlled trials, longitudinal studies, cohort and case control studies, were also included. Exclusion criteria included studies investigating drug-nutrient interactions or the bioavailability of specific medications. Data collection and analysis  Initial consideration of potential relevance to the review was carried out by the primary author (NP). Two reviewers independently assessed study eligibility for inclusion. A meta-analysis could not be undertaken, as there were no comparable RCTs identified. All data were presented in a narrative summary. Results  There is very limited evidence regarding the effectiveness of nursing interventions in minimising the complications associated with enteral tube medication administration in adults. The review highlights a lack of high quality research on many important nursing issues relating to enteral medication administration. There is huge scope for further research. Some of the evidence that was identified included that nurses should consider the use of liquid form medications as there may be fewer tube occlusions than with solid forms in nasoenteral tubes and silicone percutaneous endoscopic gastronomy tubes. Nurses may need to consider the sorbitol content of some liquid medications, for example, elixirs, as diarrhoea has been attributed to the sorbitol content of the elixir, not the drug itself. In addition, the use of 30 mL of water for irrigation when administering medications or flushing small-diameter nasoenteral tubes may reduce the number of tube occlusions.

A weight-based formula for the estimation of gastric tube insertion length in newborns

OBJECTIVE

Safe and effective functioning of nasogastric and orogastric tubes in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) is achieved by ensuring their correct placement within the stomach. Insertion length has traditionally been estimated using morphological measures, but studies have indicated that these are frequently inaccurate. This study aimed to evaluate the frequency of correct tube placement and to determine a weight-based formula for estimation of insertion length.

STUDY DESIGN

A prospective study was performed over a 6-month period in a tertiary NICU. Infants with gastric tubes who required radiography for clinical reasons were included. The infant's weight and the type and length of tube were documented. A radiologist assessed the tube position to be high, borderline, correct, or long.

RESULTS

A total of 218 radiographs of infants weighing 397 to 4131 g were included. Correct tube position was achieved on 74% of occasions. By analyzing data for correct tube positions, formulas were derived to predict tube insertion length in centimeters: orogastric = [3 × weight (kg) + 12] and nasogastric = [3 × weight (kg) + 13]. The formulas correctly predicted 60% of misplaced orogastric tubes and 100% of misplaced nasogastric tubes.

CONCLUSION

We propose a novel weight-based formula for estimation of gastric tube insertion length in newborn infants to improve the accuracy of this routine procedure.

Accurate localization of the position of the tip of a naso/orogastric tube in children; where is the location of the gastro-esophageal junction?

BACKGROUND

Abdominal radiographs are used to determine the location of the tip of a newly placed nasogastric tube. The precise location of the gastroesophageal junction has not been well described in the radiology literature.

OBJECTIVE

To improve interpretation of radiographs taken to evaluate the location of the tip of a nasogastric tube. Using UGI barium studies, we determined the anatomical location and variability of the position of the gastroesophageal (GE) junction and the pylorus

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We reviewed 200 upper gastrointestinal barium studies (50 in each of 4 age groups). We measured the vertebral levels and distance of the gastroesophageal junction and the pylorus from the spine, the vertical distance of the gastroesophageal junction from the dome of the diaphragm and the distance from the gastroesophageal junction to the pylorus.

RESULTS

There is a constant location of the GE junction with no significant variation between age groups. There is a moderately constant location of the pylorus. The other measurements were very variable.

CONCLUSION

The location of the GE junction is very constant, irrespective of age. Tube tips below the level of the vertebral disc between the 11th and 12th thoracic vertebra and/or more than 16 mm from the left side of the spine lie in the stomach and not the lower esophagus. Our results should help in accurate radiographic description of the location of the tip of an NG tube.

Implementation of the evidence review on best practice for confirming the correct placement of nasogastric tube in patients in an acute care hospital

BACKGROUND

Nasogastric (NG) tube is a device passed through the gastrointestinal tract of patients for the purpose of feeding, gastric decompression and medication administration. However, a small risk involved in the process is that the tube may be misplaced into the trachea during insertion or may get displaced at a later stage, leading to disastrous results. Recent adverse incidences arising out of the misplacement of NG tube raised concerns among the nursing and medical community and the Patient Safety Officer of the hospital. The Evidence Based Nursing Unit, in collaboration with some of the key nursing leaders in nursing administration, was tasked to explore and institute the current best practice in confirming the correct placement of NG tube.

AIM

The aim of this project was to institute the best practice to confirm the correct placement of NG tube in patients in an acute care hospital setting.

METHOD

The project comprised of a few stages. The first stage involved reviewing the existing recommendations and guidelines on the methods for checking correct NG tube placement. The second stage involved incorporation of the change of practice into the clinical setting. The final stage was to monitor and evaluate the impact of the new practice on the patients, nurses and other healthcare professionals.

RESULTS

Evidence search from guidelines and journals supported the test that used pH indicator instead of the litmus test. There is no evidence that supports the method of auscultation and bubbling to confirm correct NG tube placement in the absence of aspirate. Radiology remains the 'gold standard' for checking correct NG tube placement. The revised method of NG tube placement and workflow was incorporated in the revised Standard Operating Procedures. A total of 17 roadshows were conducted to create awareness regarding the new method amongst the nurses, and the implementation of the revised method and workflow was commenced on 3 November 2008. The initial audit conducted 1 month after the practice change was implemented reported 26 (50%) observations of NG tube feeding in 26 audit wards. The key areas of practice change in feeding when tube placement was confirmed (84.6%) and proper testing of aspirate (76.9%) showed good compliance.

CONCLUSION

The implementation of the change in the practice of confirming the correct placement of the NG tube in patients requires good coordination and a multidisciplinary team approach.

Specific aspects of gastro-intestinal transit in children for drug delivery design

This mini-review discusses relevant aspects of gastro-intestinal transit in different ages of paediatric patients with an attempt to highlight factors which should be considered in oral dosage form design, in particular multi-particulate dosage forms. This emphasis is due to multi-particulates possessing many of the benefits of liquid oral formulations (such as ease of swallowing and dose adaptability) without many of their drawbacks (such as stability issues and lack of enteric or modified release functionalities). It is commonly stated that children are not merely small adults with regards to medicines. However, there has been very little research regarding how different dosage forms transit through the gastro-intestinal tract in children compared to adults, due to both ethical and practical hurdles. Due to this lack of studies on dosage form transit in children, information which was available on the transit of food, milk and liquids (often dependent upon the age of the patient) has been used to look at how various aspects of transit vary with age and, where possible, when they reach adult values and how these may affect the fate of dosage forms in vivo: swallowability, oesophageal transit, gastric emptying and pH, intestinal and colonic transit are discussed.

Investigating the use of preoperative nasogastric tubes and postoperative outcomes for infants with pyloric stenosis: a retrospective cohort study

PURPOSE

Literature is lacking regarding the role of nasogastric tubes in patients with pyloric stenosis. There is also no consensus among surgeons. Some believe that pyloric stenosis is a form of gastric outlet obstruction, and the stomach should be drained until the obstruction is relieved. Others claim that infants can handle their secretions, and draining the stomach may further exacerbate the alkalosis. This chart review examines the use of preoperative nasogastric tubes in a single pediatric institution and its effect on vomiting rates and length of stay.

METHODS

After research ethics board approval, a retrospective review was performed on 109 patients admitted between January 1, 2007, and December 31, 2008, with pyloric stenosis who underwent pyloromyotomy. Data were collected on presence of a preoperative nasogastric tube, preoperative electrolyte levels, ultrasound characteristics, episodes of postoperative vomiting, and length of stay.

RESULTS

One hundred six patients were used in the final analysis. A nasogastric tube was placed in 77 patients (73%). Patients with a preoperative nasogastric tube had significantly higher episodes of postoperative vomiting (P = .015; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.29-2.63) and length of stay (P = .017; 95% CI, 2.49-25.01). Bicarbonate levels were also significantly higher in patients with a nasogastric tube. There was no difference in the duration of symptoms, ultrasound characteristics, or type of operation between the 2 cohorts.

CONCLUSION

The data strongly suggest that preoperative nasogastric tube placement adversely affects postoperative vomiting and consequently increases length of stay. The lack of consensus about the use of preoperative nasogastric tubes coupled with these findings indicates the need to evaluate this practice with a prospective randomized controlled trial.

Confirming nasogastric tube position in the emergency department: pH testing is reliable

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to determine whether pH testing is an accurate method of confirming nasogastric tube (NGT) position in children with and without gastroenteritis in the emergency department.

METHODOLOGY

A prospective observational study of NGT insertions was conducted at a tertiary pediatric emergency department, during a 9-month period in 2006. We evaluated methods of NGT position confirmation, pH of nasogastric aspirates from patients with and without gastroenteritis, and adverse events.

RESULTS

A total of 404 patients were enrolled. For 393 patients (97.3%), NGT aspirates could be obtained to assess pH. Of these patients, 294 (74.8%) had a diagnosis of gastroenteritis and 99 (25.2%) did not. There was no difference in median pH between the patients with gastroenteritis (pH, 2; interquartile range, 2-4) and those without gastroenteritis (pH, 2; interquartile range, 2-4; P = 0.09). Overall, 341 patients (86.8%) had a pH of 4 or lower. The patients with gastroenteritis were more likely to have a pH of 4 or lower than the patients without gastroenteritis (P = 0.018). Tube position was confirmed by pH alone in 332 patients (84.5%). Nine (2.6%) of the 341 patients with a pH of 4 or lower also had radiography (7 for causes other than confirmation of NGT position) indicating correct placement of all NGTs. Fifty-two patients (13.2%) had a pH higher than 4, and 18 (34%) of these had the tube position confirmed by radiography, of which 3 had tubes misplaced in the distal esophagus. Irrespective of pH level, there were no respiratory placements clinically or by radiography. Overall, 22 patients (5.6% 95% CI 3.5%-8.3%) required more than 1 attempt for NGT insertion. There were 13 minor adverse events (3.3% 95% CI 1.8%-5.6%) and no major adverse events.

CONCLUSIONS

Testing of gastric pH is a reliable way of confirming NGT position when the pH is 4 or lower. When the pH is higher than 4, a radiograph may be necessary.

A systematic review of nursing administration of medication via enteral tubes in adults

AIM

This systematic review aimed to determine the best available evidence regarding the effectiveness of nursing interventions in minimising the complications associated with administering medication via enteral tubes in adults.

BACKGROUND

Giving enteral medication is a fairly common nursing intervention entailing several skills: verifying tube position, preparing medication, flushing the tube and assessing for potential complications. If not carried out effectively harmful consequences may result leading to increased morbidity and even mortality. Until now, what was considered to be best practice in this area was unknown.

DESIGN

Systematic review.

METHODS

CINAHL, MEDLINE, The Cochrane Library, Current Contents/All Editions, EMBASE, Australasian Medical Index and PsychINFO databases were searched up to September 2005. Reference lists of included studies were appraised. Two reviewers independently assessed study eligibility for inclusion. There were no comparable randomised-controlled trials; data were presented in a narrative summary.

RESULTS

Identified evidence included using 30 ml of water for irrigation when giving medication or flushing small-diameter nasoenteral tubes may reduce tube occlusion. Using liquid medication should be considered as there may be less tube occlusions than with solid forms in nasoenteral tubes and silicone percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy tubes. In addition, nurses may need to consider the sorbitol content of some liquid medications, for example elixirs, as diarrhoea has been attributed to the sorbitol content of the elixir, not the drug itself.

CONCLUSION

The evidence was limited. There was a lack of high-quality research on many important issues relating to giving enteral medication.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE

Nurses have the primary responsibility for giving medication through enteral tubes and need knowledge of the best available evidence. Some of the nursing considerations and interventions relating to this skill have been researched in the clinical area and have implications for practice. There is a need for further studies to strengthen these findings.

Capnometry and Air Insufflation for Assessing Initial Placement of Gastric Tubes

Background Nurses are often responsible for placement of large-bore gastric tubes. Tube misplacement into the lungs is a potential complication with serious sequelae. The reliability of common bedside methods for differentiating between pulmonary and gastric placement has not been acceptable.

Objective To compare the accuracy of capnometry (colorimetric indicator of end-tidal carbon dioxide) and air insufflation/auscultation with the accuracy of radiography in detecting the location of gastric tubes.

Methods A prospective convenience sample of insertions of Salem sump gastric tubes was studied. Tubes were inserted by nurses according to the unit’s standard procedure, and air insufflation/auscultation, capnometry, and radiography were used to detect the position of the tubes. Results obtained with each of the methods were compared.

Results A total of 91 tube placements were studied in 69 patients. No radiographically documented instances of lung placement occurred. Capnometry incorrectly indicated 15 of 91 gastric placements (16%) as placements in the lung. Air insufflation/auscultation incorrectly indicated 5 of 91 gastric placements (5%) as placements in the lung.

Conclusions Neither air insufflation nor capnometry is a fail-safe method for determining placement of gastric tubes. Radiography remains the preferred method.

Predicting internal distance to the stomach for positioning nasogastric and orogastric feeding tubes in children

AIM

This paper is a report of a study to examine how well direct morphological distances commonly used for nasogastric or orogastric tube insertion and other methods perform as predictors of the internal distance to the targeted position for the tube pores in the stomach.

BACKGROUND

Previous studies with very small samples have indicated that commonly used distances give malplacements, either above the oesophagogastric junction or below the body of the stomach, perhaps as much as 33% of the time.

METHODS

We compared the predicted distances to the endoscopic and manometric distances to the oesophagogastric junction and to the body of the stomach in a prospective study of 494 children, 2 weeks to 19 years (231 months) of age. Data were collected from 1991 to 1998 and in 2005.

RESULTS

The nose-ear-xiphoid distance commonly used in nursing, and other morphological distances, often gave estimates that were either shorter than that to the oesophagogastric junction or longer than that to the distal margin of the body of the stomach. Age-specific methods for predicting the distance to the body of the stomach based on height gave highly accurate predictions of the internal distances.

CONCLUSION

Age-specific methods have the potential to predict accurately the distances to the body of the stomach in 98.8% of children from 0.5 to 100 months of age and in 96.5% of children over 100 months of age. Where age-specific prediction methods cannot be used, the next best choice is the nose or mouth to ear-mid-xiphoid-umbilicus span.

Testing nasogastric tube positioning in the critically ill: exploring the evidence

Nutritional support in the critically ill is commonly delivered via a nasogastric tube. Correct positioning in the stomach must first be confirmed as inadvertent feeding into the lungs carries a high risk of mortality. The National Patient Safety Agency (2005) recommends the method of pH testing nasogastric tube aspirates to verify tube position. This article critically analyses the research supporting this method, and questions its reliability in critically ill patients whose gastric pH may well be altered due to prophylactic stress ulcer medications and continuous feeding regimens. There is a lack of quality research testing this method in the critically ill population. The theory-practice gap is addressed, and preliminary research behind use of techniques such as capnography and capnometry is also examined.

A European survey of enteral nutrition practices and procedures in adult intensive care units

AIMS

The aim of this survey was to gain an overview of enteral nutrition practices and procedures of European adult intensive care units and to describe current trends.

BACKGROUND

Currently, little is known about nutritional practices in European intensive care units and whether they match existing guidelines.

DESIGN

Survey.

METHODS

A 51-item questionnaire about nutritional assessment and enteral feeding was distributed to 383 intensive care units in 20 countries.

RESULTS

A total of 380 (99.2%) questionnaires were returned. Most intensive care units (86.5%, n = 320/370) did not use a nutritional risk score and 35.8% (n = 133/371) conducted daily assessments of nutritional status; body weight and serum albumin were the commonest measures. Checking the position of the feeding tube using auscultation of injected air was widespread (72.6%, n = 275/373). Most units used a clinical protocol and under half were supported by a nutritional support team.

CONCLUSION

There are some variations in enteral nutrition practices across European intensive care units. Involvement of nurses in performing nutritional assessments or developing clinical protocols was minimal. The use of outdated procedures for checking feeding tube placement is a concern. There is scope for further development of nutrition guidelines in European units.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE

This study is relevant to all nurses working in critical care areas. The findings suggest that when an intensive care unit is supported by a nutritional support team it is more likely that a nutritional score will be used and nutritional assessments will be made daily. Many intensive care practices do not conform to international guidelines for enteral feeding. Nutritional assessment and the use of nutritional risk scores are areas that would benefit from further application in intensive care. This study may provide an impetus for intensive care units to review their nutrition assessment practices and to advance evidence-based guidelines, developed by multi-professional teams, which ensure the safe and effective management of patients receiving enteral nutrition.