Effect of Lateral Position on the Success Rate of Nasogastric Tube Insertion in Patients with Low Level of Consciousness: A Clinical Trial Study

Abstract

Introduction: Nasogastric tube (NGT) insertion in anesthetized patients and in patients with depressed levels of consciousness is a challenging process with a high rate of failure. Therefore, the current parallel clinical trial study was conducted with the aim of investigating the effect of the lateral position on the success rate of  nasogastric tube insertion in patients with low level of consciousness.

Methods: The current study type was a randomized clinical trial in which 170 patients with low level of consciousness and admitted to intensive care and general departments of Ganjavian Hospital in Dezful city were randomly selected and divided into two groups using permutation blocks of six according to the inclusion criteria. Control (85) and intervention (85) were allocated. The data collection tools included demographic and medical information forms and checklists. SPSS version 16 was used for data analysis.

Results: The results show that the duration of tube placement in the intervention group was 64.63 seconds and in the control group was 99.80 seconds, the most common complication is gag reflex in the intervention group 35.30% and in the control group 52.94% The placement of the first time in the intervention group was 63.53% and in the control group was 30.59%. Complications during tube placement (P=0.002), time spent (P<0.0001), number of attempts to succeed in tube placement (P<0.0001) in the intervention group significantly less than the group Was in control. In general, the success rate of tube placement in the intervention group was significantly higher than the control group (P=0.001).

Conclusion: According to the findings of the present, using lateral position for NGT insertion in patients with depressed level of consciousness is recommended to the treatment team, especially nurses because this method reduces the complications and the number of attempts to achieve successful intubation, in addition to increasing the success rate and saving nurses’ time.