Comparison of Neonatal Nursing Practices for Determining Feeding Tube Insertion Length and Verifying Gastric Placement With Current Best Evidence

BACKGROUND

Oral-nasogastric feeding tubes (FTs) are often malpositioned, placing infants at risk for complications. Confusion exists regarding the accuracy of methods to determine FT insertion length and verify gastric FT placement, and it is unknown whether evidence-based methods are used by neonatal nurses.

PURPOSE

To compare individual and unit-based neonatal nursing practices regarding methods used to determine FT insertion length and verify gastric FT placement.

METHODS

Neonatal nurses were surveyed about individual and unit-based practices regarding methods used to determine FT insertion length and verify gastric FT placement in infants in the neonatal intensive care unit.

RESULTS

Sixty neonatal nurses completed the survey, with 63% utilizing the nose-ear-midway to the umbilicus method, which was included in 50% of protocols and is associated with up to a 90% accuracy rate. Although it has an unacceptably high inaccuracy rate, the nose-to-ear-to-xiphoid method was used by 32% of nurses and recommended in 30% of protocols. To verify gastric FT placement, 98% of nurses used auscultation of a whoosh sound and 83% used aspiration of gastric contents. Neither verification method is supported by evidence or recommended for use.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

A lack of consistency exists between nursing practice and evidence-based methods.

IMPLICATIONS FOR RESEARCH

Research is needed to determine more accurate and reliable ways to determine FT insertion depth and verify gastric FT placement in neonates.

Gastric residual evaluation in preterm neonates: a useful monitoring technique or a hindrance?

It is routine practice in most neonatal intensive care units to measure the volume and color of gastric residuals (GRs) prior to enteral bolus feedings in preterm very low birth weight infants. However, there is paucity of evidence supporting the routine use of this technique. Moreover, owing to the lack of uniform standards in the management of GRs, wide variations exist as to what constitutes significant GR volume, the importance of GR color and frequency of GR evaluation, and the color or volume standards that dictate discarding or returning GRs. The presence of large GR volumes or green-colored residuals prior to feeding often prompts subsequent feedings to be withheld or reduced because of possible necrotizing enterocolitis resulting in delays in enteral feeding. Cessation or delays in enteral feeding may result in extrauterine growth restriction, a known risk factor for poor neurodevelopmental and growth outcomes in preterm very low birth weight infants. Although some neonatal intensive care units are abandoning the practice of routine GR evaluation, little evidence exists to support the discontinuation or continuation of this practice. This review summarizes the current state of GR evaluation and underlines the need for a scientific basis to either support or refute the routine evaluation of GRs.