Echography for nasogastric tube placement verification

Eur J Clin Nutr. 2017 May;71(5):669-670. doi: 10.1038/ejcn.2016.276. Epub 2017 Feb 8.

Abstract

To report the interest of abdominal ultrasonography for confirming the appropriate location of nasogastric tube (NGT) in the stomach using a new dynamic test, and to illustrate the aspect of this test at ultrasonography. Clinical observation of a patient, images of abdominal ultrasonography and video of the stomach visualized by ultrasonography. We describe the video of a critically ill patient in whom, immediately after NGT insertion, aspiration of gastric liquid and instillation within the NGT was associated with ultrasonographic evidence of turbulences in the stomach. In addition to the direct visualization of the NGT in the stomach, ultrasonographic visualization of turbulences after aspiration and instillation of gastric liquid may allow to assess the appropriate positioning of the NGT.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Acute Disease
  • Humans
  • Intensive Care Units
  • Intubation, Gastrointestinal*
  • Middle Aged
  • Respiration, Artificial
  • Respiratory Insufficiency / therapy
  • Stomach / diagnostic imaging
  • Ultrasonography*