Malposition of feeding tubes in neonates: is it an issue?
OBJECTIVE
Accurate tube placement of orogastric and nasogastric feeding tubes in neonates is important to ensure safe and effective enteral feeding. Errors in placement and position of feeding tubes are described in literature, but there is little evidence of the exact prevalence of improperly placed tubes, especially in neonates.


METHODS
To evaluate the prevalence of improperly placed feeding tubes, we reviewed 381 consecutive radiographs and defined the position of the feeding tubes.


RESULTS
We found that in 41% of the placements, the optimal position of the feeding tubes was achieved, whereas overall 59% of the feeding tubes had been placed incorrectly.


CONCLUSIONS
There is a need for both better rules to measure the distance between nose (lips) and the body of the stomach and improved methods to confirm correct tube position in neonates.
Clinic for Neonatology, University Hospital of Zürich, Frauenklinikstrasse 10, 8091 Zürich, Switzerland. daniel.quandt@kispi.uzh.ch
Daniel
D
Quandt
Thomas
T
Schraner
Hans
H
Ulrich Bucher
Romaine
R
Arlettaz Mieth
D004750:Enteral Nutrition / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D004947:Esophagus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007441:Intubation, Gastrointestinal / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D019300:Medical Errors; D011859:Radiography; D013270:Stomach / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging