A time efficient and reliable method for naso-gastric tube replacement using the guide wire technique

Abstract

To replace a naso-gastric tube we used a guid wire. A thin gide wire is inserted and it is left in position after the old tube has been removed, then a new tube is inserted along the guide wire. We have named this method as “the naso-gastric guide wire tube replacement technique”. Sixty three times in thirteen cases we had complete success using this replacement method, only one time the guide wire was pulled out due to a jerking movement from the patient. It took about ten minutes to perform this method. No complication was seen. In one case this method was used 25 times over a 3 year period. There was no ulcer or inflammation on the mucosal surface of the nasal and pharyngeal cavity when using 8 Fr polyurethane naso-gastric tube. This method is extremely usefull when we need to exchange a naso-gastric tube, especially in difficult cases of tube insertion.