Administration of radiographic contrast.Assessment of the presence or volume of upper gastrointestinal bleeding.Symptom relief and bowel rest in bowel obstruction (the “drip and suck” conservative management – aspiration of stomach contents in conjunction with intravenous fluid administration).Initial and continued gastric decompression in the endotracheal intubated patients.NG tubes may also be used for removal of gastric contents. Examples would include:.NG tubes can also be used to deliver certain medications directly into the stomach of patients with the same stipulations as feeding.If the patient’s nutritional needs are not being met or it transpires that the gastrointestinal tract is not functioning normally, Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN) is considered.After this time, the aim would be for the patient to begin feeding orally, or to change to more long-term measures such as percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG). In general, enteral tube feeding is only advised for up to 4 weeks.
In all cases where enteral tube feeding is considered, specialist assessment by Speech and Language therapists and dieticians is required in order to ascertain that tube feeding is necessary and safe, as well as to monitor the patient’s progress once started on enteral feeding in order to determine if and when it can be stopped and how to proceed.Occasionally, NG feeding is used to prepare malnourished patients for major abdominal surgery in the pre-operative period.Following upper gastrointestinal surgery where a high anastomosis must be protected in the initial post-operative period.Lowered consciousness level such as coma or PVS.Neurological conditions causing dysphagia/unsafe swallow such as stroke.Examples where both stipulations are met include:.A functional, accessible gastrointestinal tract.Feeding purposes – NICE guidelines state that NG tubes should only be used in people who are malnourished or at risk of malnutrition and have:.These are more rare, usually placed by a specialist, and are beyond the scope of this module. Note: Other enteral tubing methods involve delivery into the duodenum (nasoduodenal, ND) or jejunum (nasojejunal, NJ) and are used if delivery into the stomach is contraindicated.A nasogastric or NG tube is a plastic tubing device that allows delivery of nutritionally complete feed directly into the stomach or removal of stomach contents. It is passed via the nose into the oropharynx and upper gastrointestinal tract.Key bones in the abdominal area include the base of the ribcage and the lumbar spine in the lower back.īecause of the important organs situated in the abdominal area, many health concerns stem from this area. They also play a role in supporting the body’s sexual functions, among other things. These synthesize and secrete hormones that help the kidneys to conserve sodium, thus conserving water. On top of the kidneys are the suprarenal (adrenal) glands. The kidneys also help regulate levels of electrolytes, like salt and potassium, and produce certain hormones that play various roles throughout the body. Kidneys filter waste out of the bloodstream, which is passed out of the body as urine. Most people have two kidneys, which are located near the back of the body, under the ribs, on each side of the spine.