II. Indications
- Prolonged Positive Pressure Ventilation
- Preferred route in newborns
- Keeps nose open for ventilation
- Gastric Lavage
III. Preparation: Tube Measurement (estimating length)
- NEX Method
- Bridge of nose to earlobe to xyphoid process
- Note centimeter mark at this point of tube
- Scalzo method
- Oral Insertion Length: (0.22 x height in cm) + 13
IV. Protocol: Newborns
- Size: 8 French
- Technique
- Gently insert tube to pre-measured distance
- Aspirate gastric contents to a 20 cc syringe
- Leave tube open after Stomach contents removed
- Tape tube to lower side of cheek
V. Protocol: Large tube placement (historically used for Gastric Lavage)
- Tube size
- Infant: 8 French
- Child: 10 to 16 French
- Adult: 32 French (up to 50 F)
- Technique
- Spray posterior pharynx with topical benzocaine
- Patient's head hyper-flexed forward
- Insert lubricated Orogastric Tube
- Insert as patient swallows
- Advance tube immediately after each gagging episode
- Confirm intragastric placement
- Insert air via syringe and auscultate Stomach
- Remove gastric contents gently