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pH Testing of Feeding‐Tube Aspirates to Determine Placement
Author(s) -
Metheny Norma A.,
Clouse Ray E.,
Clark Joan M.,
Reed Lisa,
Wehrle Mary A.,
Wiersema Laurel
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
nutrition in clinical practice
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.725
H-Index - 71
eISSN - 1941-2452
pISSN - 0884-5336
DOI - 10.1177/0115426594009005185
Subject(s) - medicine , feeding tube , tube (container) , intensive care medicine , surgery , waste management , engineering
Although radiologic confirmation of tube placement remains the “gold standard,” there is growing evidence that pH testing of feeding‐tube aspirates can reduce (although not totally eliminate) reliance on x‐rays used for this purpose. This article describes that evidence and tells how it was obtained. Reducing the number of x‐rays needed to confirm tube position can have far‐reaching financial benefits.