It is used to deliver food or medicine to the stomach for people who have difficulty eating or swallowing.
It can also be used to remove liquids or air from the stomach.
The placement of an NG tube, called nasogastric intubation, can be uncomfortable but is usually not painful.
Leonello Calvetti / Science Photo Library / Getty Images
When used to deliver liquid nutrition, the procedure is often referred to as “tube feeding.”
Leonello Calvetti / Science Photo Library / Getty Images
Why Are NG Tubes Used?
It can also be used to give medications in some situations.
An NG tube is sometimes automatically inserted after abdominal surgery of any kind.
Before having surgery, your doctor should let you know if you may wake up with an NG tube.
How Is an NG Tube Inserted?
An NG tube is placed by a doctor or a nurse.
Usually, the procedure is done in the hospital.
First, your nasal area might be numbed with either lidocaine or an anesthetic spray.
Often, the NG tube is coated with a lubricant gel to help it go down easier.
Your doctor will usually tell you to swallow while the NG tube is being placed.
The procedure is uncomfortable, but it shouldn’t be painful.
If you do feel pain, it could be a sign that the tube isn’t placed properly.
Your doctor may check the tube by adding or removing some stomach contents.
They may also order an X-ray to ensure that the tube is in the correct position.
It can also move out of place, which is known as dislodgement.
Aspiration
In some situations, food or medicine being put through the tube can come back up.
If these substances enter the lungs, it causesaspiration pneumonia.
This is a serious, life-threatening problem.
Aspiration pneumonia is the most common cause of death among elderly people with an NG feeding tube.
Difficulty Speaking
An improperly positioned nasogastric tube can make it hard to talk.
NGS is a rare but potentially life-threatening condition where vocal cord paralysis causes upper airway obstruction.
Contact your healthcare provider if you have a hoarse voice with an NG tube.
In many cases, once the tube is repositioned, your voice should sound normal.
However, it can help prevent surgery in some cases and provide life-saving benefits.
Summary
An NG tube can be used as a temporary feeding tube.
It may also provide medication to people unable to swallow.
In some instances, an NG tube may also be used to remove substances from the stomach.
The NG tube can be a life-saving tool.
There are times when an NG tube may be necessary, and other times it may be optional.
Discuss your circumstance with your doctor.
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