Predicting the distance for nasojejunal tube insertion in children.

ISSUES AND PURPOSE: As no consistent predictor of insertion tube distance has been determined for intestinal feeding tubes and fluoroscopic placement is very expensive, this study sought a reliable method of blind placement.

DESIGN AND

METHODS

This cross-sectional study measured the internal distance from the lip to the pylorus in 387 children undergoing upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and compared those measurements to the external distances measured from the nose around the ear to the 10th rib and lip around the ear to the 10th rib.

RESULTS

Regression equations using height fitted in four age groups were the best predictors of the internal pyloric distances.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Predicting this distance with height may help healthcare providers be more successful in blind placement of intestinal feeding tubes. A table of predicted nasointestinal tube insertion distances is included.