How to Place a Nasoesophageal Feeding Tube

Nasoesophageal feeding tubes can be an effective method of administering food to anorexic patients for the short term; 1-10days. it is important to select the appropriate method of assisted feeding for each individual patient. nasoesophageal feeding is not suitable for patients that are vomiting or regurgitating due to the increased risk of the tube being displaced and being aspirated into the trachea. patients with nasal or facial injuries are not suitable subjects for nasoesophageal feeding and instead may require an oesophageal feeding tube or pEG (percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy) tube for assisted feeding. Similarly comatose patients and laterally recumbent patients and those with respiratory disease are not suitable candidates for nasoesophageal tube feeding.

Equipment required

• Local anaesthetic- Lidocaine 2%

• nasoesophageal tube

• marker pen

• Ky jelly

• adhesive tape

• Surgical stapler or suture material

• Super glue

• Buster collar

• 5ml syringe

• 5ml of sterile water for injection drawn in a 5ml syringe

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