This may be a little different than my previous posts, but a question today prompted this. I was asked why we don't use these NGT's, even though we have a pile of them in the drawer. I'm confident that if you've spent anytime around a hospital, you're familiar with them as well.First and foremost, for whatever reason, unlike other tubes, there is no radioopaque markings on the tube. This means that on an X-ray, there is absolutely no way to tell if this tube is in position, coiled in the esophagus, or (heaven forbid!) in a patient's lung. From a medicine standpoint I find this unacceptable; from a malpractice standpoint it is one big liability. Once in a while, for whatever reason, the tube is in place, but I have difficulty auscultating it. A simple X-ray can confirm placement, but not with this tube.
The second reason is that it is a single lumen tube. For feeding purposes this is ok, but for suction it is less than ideal. A tube with a sump will prevent the little holes from sucking onto the gastric mucosa and causing irritation, or worse.
The third reason is that these Levin tubes are very flexible, and are quite difficult to place. Even resorting to placing them on ice to stiffen them, they are still too flexible, and unless the patient is very cooperative, the placement is a chore.
Thankfully, with many other choices available, I don't use the Levin nasogastic tube anymore.
Medicine Tag
Health Tag
Save This Page
No comments:
Post a Comment