2017 Volume 37 Issue 1 Pages 37-40
Early enteral feeding can be administered using a post-pyloric tube, and it is considered a reliable alternative for providing adequate nutrition. Various methods have been reported for the insertion of enteral tubes, and the procedure is not easy to perform. We created a protocol for inserting a feeding tube at bedside and investigated its usefulness by using a digital radiographic imaging device. This procedure combines the findings of auscultation and radiographic imaging in order to verify the tube position in the stomach. In 35 of 39 cases, post-pyloric placement of the enteral tube was achieved in less than 15 minutes, without complications. This procedure is convenient and minimally invasive. For these reasons, it is considered a practical method for critically ill patients.
