Abstract

* The insertion of an enteral tube can be both distressing and dangerous for the patient especially if placement is not correctly determined * It is hypothesised that techniques for determining enteral tube placement have at times been based on information that may be either outdated or otherwise inappropriate * This paper is a review of the research on three traditional non-radiologic and non-endoscopic bedside techniques for determining nasogastric and naso-intestinal tube placement * Hydrogention (pH) analysis, auscultation of insufflated air and the visual analysis of gastro-intestinal aspirate are discussed * Other forms of enteral tube placement are also considered, as well as possible implications for future practice