Comparing methods of determining insertion length for placing gastric tubes in children 1 month to 17 years of age.

PURPOSE: The purpose was to compare three methods of predicting the gastric tube insertion length in children 1 month to 17 years of age: age-related, height-based (ARHB); nose-ear-xiphoid (NEX); and nose-ear-mid-umbilicus (NEMU).

DESIGN AND

METHODS

The design was a randomized controlled trial. Children were randomly assigned to the ARHB, NEX, or NEMU groups. Tubes placed high were considered to be misplaced.

RESULTS

There were significant differences in percentages of correctly placed tubes, with ARHB and NEMU being more accurate than NEX.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: NEX should no longer be used as a gastric tube insertion-length predictor. Either ARHB or NEMU should be used.