Enteric Tube Placement
Enteric Tube Placement - Related Videos
13:04
Preparing and Administering Enteric Tube Medications
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2017
Source: Madeline Lassche, MSNEd, RN and Katie Baraki, MSN, RN, College of Nursing, University of Utah, UT An enteric tube is a tube that is inserted and passed into the stomach or intestines. Enteric tubes serve multiple purposes, including stomach decompression (through the removal of air, gastric contents, and secretions), enteric feeding, and/or the administration of medications or oral contrast. Enteric tubes are indicated for patients with impaired swallowing and for patients with...
06:57
Arterial Line Placement
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2023
Source: Sharon Bord, MD, Department of Emergency Medicine, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Maryland, USA When monitoring patients, it is important to obtain values that are accurate and reliable. Blood pressure monitoring is one of the essential vital signs, and for a majority of patients, measuring it utilizing non-invasive techniques provides accurate values. However, there are situations in which the blood pressure requires more exact, specific, and reliable measurements.
09:51
Intraosseous Needle Placement
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2023
Source: Julianna Jung, MD, FACEP, Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Maryland, USA For unstable patients requiring urgent administration of medications, fluids, or blood products, establishing vascular access quickly is essential. However, there are many factors that can complicate placement of a peripheral intravenous cannula (PIV), and it is extremely common for PIV attempts to fail. PIV placement may be technically challenging in small...
10:56
Tube Thoracostomy
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2023
Source: Rachel Liu, BAO, MBBCh, Emergency Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA Tube thoracostomy (chest tube placement) is a procedure during which a hollow tube is inserted into the thoracic cavity for drainage of fluid or air. Emergency chest tube insertion is performed for definitive treatment of tension pneumothorax, traumatic hemothorax, large-volume pleural effusions, and empyemas. Irrespective of the cause of air and fluid accumulation in the pleural space, the...
01:18
Drug Delivery: Enteral Route
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2024
The enteral drug administration involves three primary routes: oral, sublingual, and buccal. Oral ingestion is the most prevalent, safe, economical, and convenient method for drug administration. However, it has certain drawbacks, including limited absorption due to the drug's low water solubility or poor membrane permeability, possible emesis from GI mucosa irritation, destruction of drugs by digestive enzymes or low gastric pH, and irregular absorption along with food or other drugs. Drugs in...
FAQs
Tube selection should reflect the intended gastrointestinal access and clinical purpose. Because enteric access may support feeding, hydration, medication delivery, or decompression, clinicians need to choose an appropriate tube before insertion. This decision forms part of safe planning and helps align the device with the patient’s required treatment and the desired location in the stomach or small intestine.
Aspirate characteristics and pH provide bedside information about where the tube may have entered the gastrointestinal tract. These checks help clinicians assess placement rather than relying only on the insertion process. Their findings can guide the decision to proceed or seek additional confirmation, particularly before administering feedings or medications through the tube.
Imaging is used when indicated to confirm tube location before feeding or medication administration. It provides an additional assessment beyond bedside aspirate and pH checks, which is especially important when placement is uncertain. This confirmation helps reduce the risk of using a tube that has entered the respiratory tract rather than the intended gastrointestinal pathway.
A safe workflow includes selecting an appropriate tube, inserting it through the nose or mouth, advancing it toward the stomach or small intestine, and assessing its location. Clinicians use aspirate characteristics and pH at the bedside, with imaging when indicated. Feeding or medication administration should follow appropriate placement assessment rather than insertion alone.
Once appropriate gastrointestinal access has been established, the tube can support several forms of care. It may deliver enteral nutrition, hydration, or medications, or provide gastric decompression. The intended purpose influences tube selection and placement assessment, while confirming location helps ensure that the tube is used for the planned intervention.
Enteric tube placement supports care in both acute and long-term settings. In either context, clinicians must select a suitable tube, evaluate its position, and account for the potential complication of respiratory placement. The same safety principles apply whether the immediate goal is nutritional support, medication delivery, hydration, or gastric decompression.