title: Effect of orogastric tubes on aspiration status and recommendations for oral feeding.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effects, if any, of the presence of an orogastric tube on incidence of aspiration and oral diet recommendations.
  
  
  METHODS
  Case series with planned data collection.
  
  
  METHODS
  Large, urban, tertiary care teaching hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Referred sample of 10 consecutively enrolled inpatients (2 pediatric, aged 17 days and 3 months, respectively; and 8 adults, mean age 63 years). An orogastric tube was present for the first videofluoroscopic swallowing study or fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing and then removed for the second swallow study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no significant differences (P = 1.0) for both overall incidence of aspiration and aspiration by food consistency (liquid or puree) dependent on orogastric tube presence. All 9 participants recommended for an oral diet ate successfully.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An orogastric tube did not affect incidence of aspiration. A videofluoroscopic or endoscopic evaluation of swallowing can be performed with an orogastric tube present, and there is no contraindication to keeping an orogastric tube in place to supplement oral alimentation until prandial nutrition is adequate.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Section of Otolaryngology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06520-8041, USA. steven.leder@yale.edu
authors.forename: Steven B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Leder
authors.forename: Cathy L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Lazarus
authors.forename: Debra M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Suiter
authors.forename: Lynn M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Acton
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003679:Deglutition; D003680:Deglutition Disorders; D016099:Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal; D004750:Enteral Nutrition; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007441:Intubation, Gastrointestinal; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D053120:Respiratory Aspiration / Q000453:epidemiology*; D055815:Young Adult