Procedures for Measuring and Verifying Gastric Tube Placement in Newborns: …

Dias FSB, Emidio SCD, Lopes MHBM, Shimo AKK, Beck ARM, Carmona EV. Procedures for measuring and verifying gastric tube placement in newborns: an integrative review. Rev Lat Am Enfermagem. 2017 Jul 10;25:e2908. doi: 10.1590/1518-8345.1841.2908. Review. English, Portuguese, Spanish. PubMed PMID: 28699995; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5511002.

Objective
To investigate evidence in the literature on procedures for measuring gastric tube insertion in newborns and verifying its placement, using alternative procedures to radiological examination.

Method
An integrative review of the literature carried out in the Cochrane, LILACS, CINAHL, EMBASE, MEDLINE and Scopus databases using the descriptors “Intubation, gastrointestinal” and “newborns” in original articles.

Results
Seventeen publications were included and categorized as “measuring method” or “technique for verifying placement”. Regarding measuring methods, the measurements of two morphological distances and the application of two formulas, one based on weight and another based on height, were found. Regarding the techniques for assessing placement, the following were found: electromagnetic tracing, diaphragm electrical activity, CO2 detection, indigo carmine solution, epigastrium auscultation, gastric secretion aspiration, color inspection, and evaluation of pH, enzymes and bilirubin.

Conclusion
The measuring method using nose to earlobe to a point midway between the xiphoid process and the umbilicus measurement presents the best evidence. Equations based on weight and height need to be experimentally tested. The return of secretion into the tube aspiration, color assessment and secretion pH are reliable indicators to identify gastric tube placement, and are the currently indicated techniques.

Disponível Em: <https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/>