title: Comparing methods of determining insertion length for placing gastric tubes in children 1 month to 17 years of age.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose was to compare three methods of predicting the gastric tube insertion length in children 1 month to 17 years of age: age-related, height-based (ARHB); nose-ear-xiphoid (NEX); and nose-ear-mid-umbilicus (NEMU).
  
  
  METHODS
  The design was a randomized controlled trial. Children were randomly assigned to the ARHB, NEX, or NEMU groups. Tubes placed high were considered to be misplaced.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were significant differences in percentages of correctly placed tubes, with ARHB and NEMU being more accurate than NEX.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  NEX should no longer be used as a gastric tube insertion-length predictor. Either ARHB or NEMU should be used.
authors.affiliation: Indiana University School of Nursing, Indianapolis, USA. mlellett@iupui.edu
authors.forename: Marsha L Cirgin
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Ellett
authors.forename: Mervyn D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.forename: Susan M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Perkins
authors.forename: Joseph M B
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Croffie
authors.forename: Kathleen A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Lane
authors.forename: Joan K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Austin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007441:Intubation, Gastrointestinal / Q000379:methods*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male