Insertion of a tube inside the stomach through the nose is called nasogastric?

Appeared in: AIIMS Patna NO - 2020

Explanation

Intubation is the medical term for the insertion of a tube into a body canal, cavity, or organ.
Nasogastric (NG) intubation specifically refers to the procedure where a flexible tube is passed through the nose (naso-), down the esophagus, and into the stomach (-gastric).
The primary purposes of this procedure include providing nutrition (gavage), removing stomach contents (decompression), administering medications, or washing out the stomach (lavage).

Option A: Irrigation is the process of flushing or washing out a body cavity or a tube with fluid. It is an action that might be performed using an already placed tube, but it is not the act of inserting the tube itself.
Option C: Extubation is the opposite of intubation; it refers to the removal of a previously inserted tube.
Option D: Urigation is not a standard or recognized medical term in the context of gastrointestinal procedures.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Knowing Gastrointestinal Intubation Terminology helps nurses interpret findings accurately and avoid errors in routine assessment, medication administration, and patient teaching.
Nurses are frequently responsible for inserting NG tubes, verifying their placement, administering feedings and medications, and monitoring the patient for complications like aspiration, skin breakdown at the nares, or tube displacement.
Confirming correct placement is a critical safety step. The gold standard for initial confirmation is a chest X-ray. For subsequent checks before each use, nurses assess the external tube length and test the pH of gastric aspirate.
What if? If a patient starts coughing violently, becomes cyanotic, or is unable to speak during insertion, the nurse must immediately withdraw the tube. These are signs that the tube has likely entered the trachea instead of the esophagus, which is a medical emergency.

How to Approach the Question

This is a factual recall question that tests your knowledge of fundamental medical terminology.
First, break down the term provided in the question: 'nasogastric'. 'Naso' refers to the nose, and 'gastric' refers to the stomach.
Next, identify the key action described: 'insertion of a tube'.
Scan the options to find the medical term that specifically means 'to insert a tube'.
Evaluate each option based on its definition: 'Intubation' means insertion. 'Extubation' means removal. 'Irrigation' means flushing. 'Urigation' is not a valid term. This process of elimination confirms the correct answer.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 Nursing Brunner Adult Health 3SA Vol 1 Part 2 p. 89-91

E6 Nursing Fundamentals Taylor p. 510-512

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