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Comparing methods of determining insertion length for placing gastric tubes in children 1 month to 17 years of age
Author(s) -
Ellett Marsha L. Cirgin,
Cohen Mervyn D.,
Perkins Susan M.,
Croffie Joseph M. B.,
Lane Kathleen A.,
Austin Joan K.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
journal for specialists in pediatric nursing
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.499
H-Index - 38
eISSN - 1744-6155
pISSN - 1539-0136
DOI - 10.1111/j.1744-6155.2011.00302.x
Subject(s) - nose , umbilicus (mollusc) , medicine , tube (container) , randomized controlled trial , surgery , materials science , composite material
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.