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Verifying Gastric Tube Placement in the ED
Pantoya, Danielle
Pantoya, Danielle
Abstract
Description
The use of nasogastric and orogastric tubes are a standard practice in Emergency Departments that require verification of placement into the stomach prior to initiating any form of treatment to minimize the risk of an adverse event. Pulmonary complications are the main risks associated with gastric tube insertion as the tube could be accidently placed in the tracheobronchial tree. Research was conducted to assess the reliability of the bedside verification methods of pH strips and the auscultation technique. Literature that was used for this research included: systematic reviews, meta-analyses, observational studies, and clinical practice guidelines. The findings were consistent that the use of pH testing of an aspirate, compared to the auscultation technique, was the more reliable method of verification of correct placement. This research was performed in an effort to initiate the use of pH strips in the Emergency Department of Parkview Medical Center when radiographic confirmation is inaccessible or deemed unnecessary.
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University of Wyoming. Libraries