• 
  

  • Decompression of the upper gastrointestinal tract (eg, pancreatitis, intestinal obstruction).

  
  

  • Gastric lavage.

  
  

  • Enteral feeding.

Absolute

• 
  

  • Unstable airway.

  
  

  • Intestinal perforation.

  
  

  • Cervical spine trauma.

  
  

  • Facial trauma.

Relative

• 
  

  • Coagulopathy (prothrombin time > 18 seconds).

  
  

  • Thrombocytopenia (platelet count < 100,000/mcL).

  
  

  • Recent intestinal tract surgery (< 1 month ago).

• 
  

  • Lubricant gel.

  
  

  • Nasogastric (NG) tube.

  
  
  
  
  • 
    

    • Larger diameter, polyethylene NG tube for suction and decompression.

    
    

    • Smaller diameter, silicone NG tube for enteral feeding.

  
  

  • Water or normal saline at room temperature.

  
  

  • Drainage bag or feeding pump.

  
  

  • 60-mL catheter tip syringe.

  
  

  • Stethoscope.

• 
  

  • Bleeding.

  
  

  • Perforation.

• 
  

  • Measure length of tube insertion by positioning the tube from the nares or mouth to the ear, then to the umbilicus.

  
  

  • There is also a standard table, which uses height of child.

  
  

  • If the tube is obstructed, flush first with water; longstanding obstruction may be removed by flushing the tube with caffeinated soda.