title: An evidence-based approach to nasogastric tube management: special considerations.
abstract: Although there have been helpful literature reviews on pediatric nasogastric (NG) tube management, there is a lack of evidence with regards to special circumstances, such as at-risk patients with altered neurological status or developmental disabilities. At our hospital, an interdisciplinary Enteral Feeding Task Force was created to address the special needs and concerns of complex pediatric patients. We carefully weighed the evidence from the literature, incidents at our hospital and other children's hospitals, and a synthesis of expert opinion. This article describes our evidence-based process of policy revision, and it includes excerpts from our revised NG tube management policy.
authors.affiliation: Children's Hospital, GI-Nutrition-Hunnewell Ground, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA. denise.richardson@childrens.harvard.edu
authors.forename: Denise S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Richardson
authors.forename: Patricia A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Branowicki
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zeidman-Rogers
authors.forename: Judith
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mahoney
authors.forename: Maura
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: MacPhee
mesh_terms: D019985:Benchmarking / Q000458:organization & administration; D001900:Boston; D002648:Child; D004358:Drug Therapy / Q000451:nursing / Q000592:standards; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006776:Hospitals, Pediatric; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007441:Intubation, Gastrointestinal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods / Q000451:nursing* / Q000592:standards; D008297:Male; D009730:Nursing Assessment / Q000458:organization & administration; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010371:Pediatric Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D012307:Risk Factors