Endotracheal Tube, Nasogastric Tube and Orogastric Tube Placement LAB

The basic skill we’ll learn today is placing a tube in a hole of a tube:

NG tube-tube placed into nostril-nasopharynx-nose down to flex neck slightly-over epiglottis (dorsal to epiglottis)-esophagus-stomach (gastric)

OG tube-tube placed orally into closed mouth through speculum-nose down to flex neck slightly-over epiglottis (dorsal to epiglottis)-esophagus-stomach (gastric)

ET tube-tube placed into open mouth, tongue pulled forward-push or depress base of tongue down, epiglottis opens, tube threaded between arytenoid cartilages/laryngeal folds-into (endo) trachea.

OBJECTIVES:

1) Learn how to measure, prepare and place NG, OG, and ET tubes, be able to determine if tubes are properly placed, and remove tubes safely without spilling contents.

2) Get your hands on these tubes and really get comfortable with the principles of proper placement so you can explain to others and assure proper placement, as this will be your responsibility as a veterinarian.  Please ask questions-questions help solidify understanding and you’ll retain for a lifetime!

3) Today we are focusing on placement of these tubes, and understanding how to determine proper placement.  Securing NG and ET tubes is really a separate skill… There are many ways to secure these tubes, so for today’s lab, don’t worry about securing them, but please be mindful and soak up what securing methods you might see around you when on externships, visiting or working in clinics-often you’ll find variability within a service or clinic.

Please see individual chapters for

NG TUBE PLACEMENT

OG TUBE PLACEMENT

ET TUBE PLACEMENT

At the end of each chapter is a SKILL IN A NUTSHELL outlining the most important points