NG tube removal - hold breath or exhale slowly?

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Hi all!

I'm studying for the NCLEX and came upon a discrepancy in Saunders' Comprehensive Review. When answering questions for NG tube removal, one answer was to have client hold breath during removal and another was to have client exhale slowly. BOTH rationales stated the other option "didn't facilitate tube removal." Additionally, one rationale stated that exhaling could cause possible aspiration.

[i tried to add screenshots but it wouldn't allow me to.]

So, WHICH ANSWER should I give on the NCLEX?

Thanks :wacky:

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Haven't seen an NG tube since the 90's. In the 80's, they were 'rampant'. Common to find them hanging off the siderails, on the floor, in the toilet, and to replace several a day. Nasty. I always told people to 'exhale and stop breathing' when I put one in or took one out, it seemed to neutralize the trauma, and the gagging. Sorry can't answer the question, though.

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Specializes in Emergency Nursing.

Sorry, I don't know the answer either, but wanted to comment that I placed 2 NGT on my last shift for possible small bowel obstructions (2 separate patients). They are definitely still in use.

If one answer is from an NCBSN source (who writes the NCLEX) I would memorize that one!!

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

I have always been taught to deep breath in...then blow it out and hold your breath....to close the epiglottis

Opening the vocal chords by blowing out can cause aspiration.

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Specializes in Oncology.

I am at work and looked it up on the lippincott procedures manual. It says "ask the patient to hold her breath to close the epiglottis."

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yup still place em in neuro patient for med and feeding and still have to replace them on the same patients

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Specializes in Acute Care Pediatrics.

We see billions of them in peds. :) Feeders / Growers, intusseceptions, bowel obstructions, etc -

And we always have you hold your breath to take them out. And swallow when placing.

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Specializes in Pedi.
We see billions of them in peds. :) Feeders / Growers, intusseceptions, bowel obstructions, etc -

And we always have you hold your breath to take them out. And swallow when placing.

Most of the kids I've placed them/removed them on were either too young or too cognitively impaired to follow directions. We just hold the kids' heads to place them and yank them out as quickly as possible to remove them.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Med-Surg, Infectious Disease.

We also have patients swallow during insertion but during removal we have them hold their breath and pull it out fast!

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