Get to konw Nasogastric(NG) Tube

NG tube（Nasogastric feeding） is a surgical procedure for patients who cannot eat orally.The tube is placed through the nose, directly into your stomach (see diagram below).

Water and food are then pumped into the tube and stomach through a syringe to ensure that the patient has adequate nutrition, water, and medication.Today, let's talk about how to operate an NG tube.

Instructions for use: 

1.The operator washes hands, wears gloves, prepares all necessary equipment, and explains the method of cooperation to the patient and his family.

2.Assist the patient to take a semi-sitting position, clean the patient's nostrils, and select the nostril with smooth ventilation to insert the tube. Take out the gastric tube and measure the insertion length of the gastric tube. The insertion length for adults is 45-55cm.
 
3.Hold the gastric tube with gauze in your left hand, and clamp the front part of the gastric tube with forceps in your right hand. Insert the gastric tube through the nostril, first slightly upward and then parallel, and then slowly and gently insert it backward and downward until it reaches the throat (14-16cm), and push it forward until it reaches the predetermined length. Preliminarily fix the gastric tube and check whether the gastric tube is coiled in the mouth.

4. Three ways to determine the position of the gastric tube:

• Extracting gastric juice is the most reliable way to determine whether the gastric tube is in the stomach. Then use tape to fix the gastric tube to the nose.
• Listening to the sound of air passing through water. Place the stethoscope in the patient's stomach area, quickly inject 10ml of air into the stomach through the gastric tube, and hear the sound of air passing through water.
• The third method is to place the end of the gastric tube in a treatment bowl filled with water, and no bubbles escape.

5. After confirming that the gastric tube is in the stomach, fix the gastric tube to the cheek with adhesive tape. Fold the end of the gastric tube back and fix it to the pillow or the patient's collar with a pin. Use a treatment towel to clean the patient's mouth, nose, and face, and help rinse the mouth.

6. Assist the patient to take a comfortable lying position.




More information

Q: What happens after the tube is inserted?
A:When the tube is in the correct position it will be used to pass liquid food into your stomach or small bowel.

Q: How long will the tube need to stay in for?
A:This will depend on why the tube was inserted. Usually the tube will be used only for a short time (a few days to a couple of weeks) while you are in hospital. Your doctor or nurse will discuss more detail wit you.