Development of a clinical practice guideline for testing nasogastric tube placement

Abstract

PURPOSE. A Perth metropolitan hospital group standardized changes to nasogastric tube placement, including removal of the "whoosh test" and litmus paper, and introduction of pH testing. DESIGN AND METHODS. Two audits were conducted: bedside data collection at a pediatric hospital and a point-prevalence audit across seven hospitals. RESULTS. Aspirate was obtained for 97% of all tests and pH was ≤ 5.5 for 84%, validating the practice changes. However, patients on continuous feeds and/or receiving acid-inhibiting medications had multiple pH testing fails. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS. Nasogastric tube placement continues to present a challenge for those high-risk patients on continuous feeds and/or receiving acid-inhibiting medications. © (2008), The Authors.