Pull back on the NG tube?

[ChineseLantern]

Currently learning to troubleshoot NG tubes. The procedure document my clinicals instructor gave me says "if the exit mark on the NGT is no longer visible, pull back the NGT and resecure to the patient's face/nose". I'm a bit confused about what this means. Pull the NGT tube where? Or back to what?

Any clarification would be greatly appreciated!

[madeline_, BSN, RN]

Not completely sure, but I believe this means that the NG tube may have somehow slipped farther back into the patient's airway. It sounds like she means for you to pull the tube back outward just a bit until you see the exit mark again.

[ChineseLantern]

Thank you!!

[Snatchedwig, BSN, CNA, LPN, RN]

4 hours ago, nursemadeline said:

Not completely sure, but I believe this means that the NG tube may have somehow slipped farther back into the patient's airway. It sounds like she means for you to pull the tube back outward just a bit until you see the exit mark again.

It wont be an airway, NG tubes goes to the stomach.

Initially when the tube is measured from the nose to the ear to the xiphoid, that end point is marked (usually by tape or a marker) and documented. Its documented so each shift can confirm if any migration of the tube. So this is what i think the OP is experiencing.

[drewseph92]

I agree with Snatchedwig, I'm guessing what they mean by the "exit mark" is however you've marked your tubing from the nose/ear/xiphoid process? I'm not sure why you'd have to pull back at all if you can verify that the tube is still in the patient's stomach, lol

[inthecosmos, BSN, MSN, RN, APRN]

On 4/27/2019 at 11:36 PM, drewseph92 said:

I agree with Snatchedwig, I'm guessing what they mean by the "exit mark" is however you've marked your tubing from the nose/ear/xiphoid process? I'm not sure why you'd have to pull back at all if you can verify that the tube is still in the patient's stomach, lol

Could be too far and migrate down. It is just about safety.