Comparison of using cooled and regular-temperature nasogastric tubes on the success of nasogastric intubation

Successful nasogastric intubation is defined as “correct placement of the tube with minimum number of attempts” which is an important issue in nasogastric intubation. Due to controversies in the use of cold tubes in nasogastric tube insertion، need for research in this area seems necessary.

To compare the effect of using cold versus regular-temperature nasogastric tubes on successful nasogastric tube insertion.

In this two-group trial، 65 patients who were admitted to toxicology emergency department of Imam Reza hospital، Mashhad، were divided into two groups of control and intervention by random allocation. In the intervention group، nasogastric intubation was carried out with tubes that had been stored in a refrigerator at 2-8 °C، while in the control group room-temperature tubes at 22-28 °C were applied based on the standard procedure. Data were analyzed using chi-square and t-student tests in SPSS version 11. 5.

The mean age of the participants was 28. 5±9. 8، with 65. 6% men in control group and 51. 5% women in the intervention group. Among the participants، in 84. 4% of the control group and 100% of the intervention group subjects، nasogastric tube was inserted with only one attempt (p<0. 01); however، the frequency of correct intubation was not statistically significant between the two groups (P = 0. 30).

Refrigerating the tubes reduces the number of attempts in nasogastric intubation. Therefore، it is an effective way to enhance the success of nasogastric intubation and it is suggested that in order to decrease complications، increase patients’ comfort، and save nurses time، nasogastric tubes refrigerated before the procedure.