Comparing methods of determining insertion length for placing gastric tubes in children 1 month to 17 years of age
Marsha L Cirgin Ellett, Mervyn D Cohen, Susan M Perkins, Joseph M B Croffie, Kathleen A Lane, Joan K Austin, Marsha L Cirgin Ellett, Mervyn D Cohen, Susan M Perkins, Joseph M B Croffie, Kathleen A Lane, Joan K Austin
Abstract
Purpose: The purpose was to compare three methods of predicting the gastric tube insertion length in children 1 month to 17 years of age: age-related, height-based (ARHB); nose-ear-xiphoid (NEX); and nose-ear-mid-umbilicus (NEMU).
Design and methods: The design was a randomized controlled trial. Children were randomly assigned to the ARHB, NEX, or NEMU groups. Tubes placed high were considered to be misplaced.
Results: There were significant differences in percentages of correctly placed tubes, with ARHB and NEMU being more accurate than NEX.
Practice implications: NEX should no longer be used as a gastric tube insertion-length predictor. Either ARHB or NEMU should be used.
Conflict of interest statement
Disclosure: The authors report no actual or potential conflicts of interest.
© 2011, Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Source: PubMed