A randomized, clinical trial of frozen versus standard nasogastric tube placement.
BACKGROUND
Insertion of a nasogastric tube (NGT) in an anesthetized, paralyzed, and intubated patient is difficult, and many methods have been proposed to aid in the procedure. We present a simple insertion technique.


METHODS
A silicone NGT was made rigid by filling it with distilled water and freezing it. Patients were randomized into either the control or the frozen group, and an NGT was inserted after intubation.


RESULTS
A total of 100 patients (50 in each group) were included in this study. The success rate increased significantly by making the tube more rigid (control:frozen = 58%:88%; p = 0.001). There was no difference between groups in the incidence of nasal bleeding.


CONCLUSIONS
A simple method of freezing an NGT with distilled water increased the success rate of insertion for intubated patients.
Chun
Duk-Hee
DH
Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, CHA Bundang Medical Center, CHA University, Sungnam, Korea.
Kim
Na Young
NY
Shin
Yang-Sik
YS
Kim
Soo Hwan
SH
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000768:Anesthesia, General; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D005615:Freezing; D006801:Humans; D007441:Intubation, Gastrointestinal / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012828:Silicones; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D012828:Silicones