Determining Feeding Tube Location by Gastric and Intestinal pH Values

Abstract

The pH value was a reliable predictor of nasoduodenal tube placement. However, radiographic confirmation of location could not be excluded because of the low sensitivity using pH measurements alone. An increase of > or = 1.0 in gastric vs intestinal pH specimens could be useful to determine use of radiography confirmation of tube placement.

Effectiveness of the auscultatory and pH methods in predicting feeding tube placement

“…The mean gastric pH for all subjects was found to be 4·2 (SD 1·20). This result is similar to the result [4·8 (SD 2·3)] of a study by Phang et al. (2004).…”

Bedside postpyloric feeding tube placement: A pilot series to validate this novel technique

“…A conservative approach was taken in this series given that 78% of patients were on acid-suppressing medications, such that a pH of Յ5 was taken to indicate gastric placement (24). A prepyloric fluid aspirate was only obtained in 60% of all intubations, with only 44% showing a gastric pH Յ5.…”

Nasogastric tube insertion in anaesthetized patients: a comprehensive review

“…Although the pH of aspirates has gained more attention compared to other values, it has some drawbacks in patients receiving acid suppressant drugs or continuous enteral feeding [89,90]. Gilbertson [36] demonstrated that a gastric aspirate pH less than 5 is a safe, reliable and practical cut off level in paediatric patients.…”