Development of a Competency Model for Placement and Verification of Nasogastric and Nasoenteric Feeding Tubes for Adult Hospitalized Patients

Nasogastric/nasoenteric (NG/NE) feeding tube placements are associated with adverse events and, without proper training, can lead to devastating and significant patient harm related to misplacement. Safe feeding tube placement practices and verification are critical. There are many procedures and techniques for placement and verification; this paper provides an overview and update of techniques to guide practitioners in making clinical decisions. Regardless of placement technique and verification practices employed, it is essential that training and competency are maintained and documented for all clinicians placing NG/NE feeding tubes. This paper has been approved by the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (ASPEN) Board of Directors.

Immediate chest radiograph interpretation by radiographers improves patient safety related to nasogastric feeding tube placement in children

BACKGROUND

Despite the publication of a national patient safety alert in 2016, inadvertent feeding through misplaced nasogastric tubes continues to occur, either through failure to review the radiograph, misinterpretation of it, or failure to communicate the results.

OBJECTIVE

The objectives were to determine whether training in a new pathway introduced to avoid these "never events" was followed and whether radiographer comments and prompt communication of results could reduce risk and improve patient safety in relation to nasogastric tube placement in children.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Following radiographer training in interpretation of nasogastric tube position and use of a commenting proforma and communication pathway, we reviewed all radiographs obtained to check nasogastric tubes performed over a 13-month period in children 0-16 years of age. Then we assessed accuracy of the radiographer comments, adherence to the pathway, and any practice change in children with misplaced nasogastric tubes.

RESULTS

We reviewed 282 nasogastric tube check radiographs. For 262 radiographs (92.9%) the pathway was followed correctly. Of the total 282 radiographs, 240 (85%) were immediately reported using the standardised commenting proforma, and 235 radiographer comments were affirmed by the radiologist (97% accuracy, confidence interval 0.95-0.99). Of the immediately reported radiographs, 213 (88.8%) nasogastric tubes were considered to be safe for use. Four (1.7%) of the immediately reported nasogastric tubes were misplaced in a bronchus, and the report communicated to the clinical team resulted in removal or re-siting of the tubes.

CONCLUSION

Nasogastric tube check radiographs in children can be reported accurately by radiographers trained in their interpretation and the results promptly communicated to clinical staff, improving safety in relation to nasogastric tube placement in children.

CARE GIVEN TO NEWBORNS FED BY GASTRIC TUBE: CONCEPTS AND PRACTICES

ABSTRACT Objective: to describe the conduct related to feeding care through gastric tube in neonates hospitalized in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, from scientific articles published in the last five years. Method: an integrative literature review was developed in the databases: MEDLINE, LILACS, SciELO, CINAHL and BDENF. The search for the studies was carried out in August 2016, in English, Spanish and Portuguese. Results: 33 articles were analyzed. The level of evidence was classified as level IV (30%), level VI (27%), level II (15%), level III (18%), level I, V and VII with 3% each. The analytical categories were: Gastric tubes, their materials and their use in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Nursing care for enteral nutrition through gastric tube in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, From the tube the oral route. The time to reach total enteral nutrition is lower, as is the decrease in length of hospital stay. The largest losses of milk fat are during gastroclysis at the expense of gavage. The relationship of food tolerance to dietary dosage form and volumes is not yet conclusive. Nursing stands out: in favor of the bond with the family, in the physical examination and evaluation, in the positioning, in the non-nutritive suction during the diet, in the oral stimulus, in the observation and conduct regarding the gastric residue. Conclusion: due to the heterogeneity of the data, more randomized and qualitative clinical trials are required to better support the conduct and improvement of nursing care.

Pediatric Nasogastric Tube Placement and Verification: Best Practice Recommendations From the NOVEL Project

The placement of a nasogastric tube (NGT) in a pediatric patient is a common practice that is generally perceived as a benign bedside procedure. There is potential risk for NGT misplacement with each insertion. A misplaced NGT compromises patient safety, increasing the risk for serious and even fatal complications. There is no standardized method for verification of the initial NGT placement or reverification assessment of NGT location prior to use. Measurement of the acidity or pH of the gastric aspirate is the most frequently used evidence-based method to verify NGT placement. The radiograph, when properly obtained and interpreted, is considered the gold standard to verify NGT location. However, the uncertainty regarding cumulative radiation exposure related to radiographs in pediatric patients is a concern. To minimize risk and improve patient safety, there is a need to identify best practice and to standardize care for initial and ongoing NGT location verification. This article provides consensus recommendations for best practice related to NGT location verification in pediatric patients. These consensus recommendations are not intended as absolute policy statements; instead, they are intended to supplement but not replace professional training and judgment. These consensus recommendations have been approved by the American Society for Parental and Enteral Nutrition (ASPEN) Board of Directors.