Comparison of different techniques of nasogastric tube insertion in anaesthetized, intubated patients in terms of rate of success, time taken and complications: An Observational Study

<ns3:p>Aims and background Insertion of a nasogastric tube (NGT) is crucial during surgery for decompressing the stomach and improve abdominal organ visibility. Traditional method of inserting NGT in the intubated, anesthetized patients is challenging and can cause complications like coiling or mucosal bleeding after several attempts. Thus, various modifications to the conventional method have been developed. The aim of this study was to observe and compare the various modified NGT insertion techniques to the standard approach in terms of first attempt success rate, number of attempts, procedure time, and adverse events. Materials and Methods A total of 239 patients scheduled for surgeries under general anaesthesia requiring NGT insertion were enrolled in the study to observe and compare the various modified techniques of NGT insertion in a tertiary care hospital. The total number of attempts for inserting successful NGT, total time taken and adverse events were observed. Results We observed five different modified techniques of NGT insertion which showed greater success rate, decreased complications and the time taken was also less in comparison to the conventional method. Conclusion NGT insertion technique varies from person to person, but has to be tailored as per the individual’s requirement. Patients who are obese with BMI &gt;30 and Mallampati classification 3 and 4 may require more than one attempt or a different technique while inserting the Nasogastric tube. Studying various NGT insertion methods in intubated and anesthetized patients enhances clinical practice and literature. Knowledge of techniques with high success rates and fewer complications can help clinicians perform them more routinely.</ns3:p>