Securing nasogastric tubes in non-cooperative patients.
To prevent extubation, nasogastric tubes (NGT) were attached to a fine bore polyurethane tube, which loops loosely around the nasal septum. In a prospective study, 124 cases were evaluated for the efficiency and possible complications. On average, a Nasal Septal Loop (NSL) remained 21,2 +/- 1,8 days and a NGT 13,8 +/- 1,1 days. Complications were rare. In 16,9% of the cases NGT had to be replaced after self extubation and in 2.4% extubation occurred more than twice. We think NSL is an easy and useful technique for securing NGT in non-cooperative and/or agitated patients for relatively short term enteral nutrition or gastric decompression.
Department of E.N.T. Middelheim Hospital, Antwerp, Belgium.
D
D
della Faille
B
B
Schmelzer
T
T
Hartoko
M
M
Vandenbroucke
C
C
Brands
P P
PP
De Deyn
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004750:Enteral Nutrition / Q000295:instrumentation; D006801:Humans; D007441:Intubation, Gastrointestinal / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009666:Nose; D010349:Patient Compliance; D011446:Prospective Studies