title: Feasibility of a novel two-piece nasogastric feeding tube for patients with dysphagia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The exposed section of a traditional nasogastric (NG) tube can interfere with patients' social activities and thereby result in distress. This study was conducted to evaluate the feasibility and safety of a novel two-piece NG tube for patients with dysphagia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten patients with dysphagia were recruited between November 2011 and May 2012. Patients who were unconscious or in critical condition, had a traditional NG tube < 50 cm or > 60 cm in fixed length, or were unable to follow instructions or sign consent forms were excluded. The two-piece NG tube, which was placed in the patients for one week, comprised a removable external tube that can be joined to an internal tube via a T-connector, which was placed close to the naris. Events related to safety (e.g. nasal pressure sores, number of unplanned extubation, displacement and spontaneous migration of the NG tube, other unpredictable injuries) and effectiveness (e.g. liquid food spills, tube obstruction, perfusion rate, other adverse circumstances) were assessed daily.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All patients received feeding without complication using the two-piece NG tube and none experienced premature removal of the tube. No serious NG tube complications or malfunctions were observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this study indicate that the two-piece NG feeding tube is a feasible option for patients with dysphagia. Future improvements to the connector may help enhance its performance. A rigorous randomised controlled trial to examine the effects of the two-piece NG tube on patients' quality of life and quality of medical care is being planned.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Changhua Christian Hospital, 135 Nanhsiao Street, Changhua 500, Taiwan, Republic of China.
authors.forename: Sen-Yung
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Chao-Pin
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Ta-Sen
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Yen-Chun
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Chih-Hao
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: Ching-Hsuan
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Chih-Lin
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Tsung-Ju
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D004750:Enteral Nutrition / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007441:Intubation, Gastrointestinal / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged