Effect of visualized nasogastric tube placement in critically ill patients in department of neurosurgery

Objective To observe the application effect of visual nasoenteric catheterization in severe neurosurgical patients.

Methods A total of 107 patients who received nasoenteric tube implantation in the neurosurgical intensive care unit (ICU) were selected. According to the nasoenteric tube implantation method, they were divided into visual group (underwent nasoenteric tube implantation by visual technique, n=53) and blind group (inserted by traditional blind insertion, n=54). The success rate of first catheterization, catheterization time and complication rate were observed and compared.

Results The success rate of first catheter placement in the visual group was higher than that in the blind group (96.23% versus 81.48%, P < 0.05). The catheter placement time in the visual group was (20.11±2.47)min, which was shorter than (38.00±3.59) min that in the blind group (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in complication rate(nose bleeding, gastrointestinal bleeding, catheter straying into the airway) between the two groups (P>0.05).

Conclusion Visual nasoenteric catheterization has a higher success rate in the first catheterization and shorter catheterization time in severe neurosurgical patients, and it is a safer method.