Electrocardiographic guidance for the placement of gastric feeding tubes: A pediatric case series

Michael L. Green, Brian K. Walsh, Gerhard K. Wolf, John H. Arnold

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

11 Scopus citations

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The placement of nasal or oral gastric tubes is one of the most frequently performed procedures in critically ill children; tube malposition, particularly in the trachea, is an important complication. Neurally adjusted ventilatory assist (NAVA) ventilation (available only on the Servo-i ventilator, Maquet Critical Care, Solna, Sweden) requires a proprietary-design catheter (Maquet Critical Care, Solna, Sweden) with embedded electrodes that detect the electrical activity of the diaphragm (EAdi). The EAdi catheter has the potential benefit of confirming proper positioning of a gastric catheter, based on and the EAdi waveforms. METHODS: In a case series study, our multidisciplinary team used EAdi guidance for immediate, real-time confirmation of proper nasal or oral gastric tube placement in 20 mechanically ventilated pediatric patients who underwent 23 oral or nasal gastric tube placements. The catheters were placed with our standard practice, with the addition of a team member monitoring the EAdi waveforms. As the tube passes down the esophagus and posterior to the heart, a characteristic EAdi pattern is identified and the position of the atrial signal confirms correct placement of the gastric tube. If the EAdi waveforms indicate incorrect placement, the tube is repositioned until the proper EAdi waveform pattern is obtained. Then proper tube placement is reconfirmed via auscultation over the stomach while air is injected into the catheter, checking the pH of fluid suctioned from the catheter (gastric pH indicates correct positioning), and/or radiograph. RESULTS: The group's median age was 3 years (range 4 d to 16 y). All 20 patients had successful gastric catheter placement. The EAdi catheter provided characteristic patterns for correctly placed tubes, tubes malpositioned above or below the gastroesoph-ageal junction, and curled tubes. Proper catheter position was confirmed via radiograph and/or gastric pH in all 20 patients. CONCLUSIONS: EAdi guidance helps confirm proper gastric catheter position, is equivalent to our standard practice for confirming gastric catheter placement, and may reduce the need for radiographs and improve patient safety by avoiding catheter malpositions.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)467-471
Number of pages5
JournalRespiratory care
Volume56
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 2011

Keywords

  • Catheter malposition
  • Enteral feeding tubes
  • Enteral nutrition
  • Nasogastric tube
  • Nava
  • Neurally adjusted ventilatory assist
  • Pediatric

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine
  • Critical Care and Intensive Care Medicine

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