Bedside placement of pH-guided transpyloric small bowel feeding tubes in critically ill infants and small children.
METHODS
The small bowel of critically ill infants and small children was cannulated using a soft feeding tube with a pH sensor at the distal tip. By monitoring pH, the tubes were guided through the stomach into the small bowel.


RESULTS
Successful placements were performed in 36 of 37 (97%) attempts in 29 critically ill patients whose age was 7.9 +/- 6.3 months and weight was 5.9 +/- 2.6 kg. Continuous jejunal feedings were administered for 3.7 +/- 3.1 weeks without difficulties or complications in all but one patient.


CONCLUSIONS
pH-guided jejunal tube placement provides a safe, easy bedside alternative to fluoroscopic, endoscopic or surgical placement in critically ill infants and small children.
Dimand
R J
RJ
Section of Critical Care Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, USA.
Veereman-Wauters
G
G
Braner
D A
DA
D002404:Catheterization / Q000379:methods; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003422:Critical Care / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D004750:Enteral Nutrition / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D004947:Esophagus / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007223:Infant; D007583:Jejunum / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology; D019095:Point-of-Care Systems / Q000592:standards*; D011708:Pylorus / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology; D013270:Stomach / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology