Stomach Tube Insertion
Alternate Names : Nasogastric Tube Insertion, NG Tube Insertion
What happens later at home?
The stomach tube is generally taken out before a person goes home. If it is left in place at home, instructions will given by the healthcare provider.
What are the potential complications after the procedure?
Some complications that may occur when the stomach tube is inserted include the following:
The tube may create a hole in the esophagus.
Air may collect in the chest cavity if the tube goes through the chest wall. This is known as pneumothorax.
The tube may be inserted into the skull and not down into the stomach.
The tube may be inserted into the windpipe, or trachea, that leads to the lungs, instead of into the esophagus, which leads to the stomach. When this happens, the person will very quickly have shortness of breath or show other signs of distress.
The tube may become blocked. This causes pain or vomiting. Also, medications or feedings will not be able to pass through the tube.
Having the tube in for too long a time can irritate the skin and tissues along the path of the tube.
The tube may cause bleeding in the nose or nasal cavity. This is more likely to happen if the person is taking blood-thinning drugs.
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