Selecting pH cut-offs for the safe verification of nasogastric feeding tube placement: a decision analytical modelling approach.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

The existing British National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA) safety guideline recommends testing the pH of nasogastric (NG) tube aspirates. Feeding is considered safe if a pH of 5.5 or lower has been observed; otherwise chest X-rays are recommended. Our previous research found that at 5.5, the pH test lacks sensitivity towards oesophageal placements, a major risk identified by feeding experts. The aim of this research is to use a decision analytic modelling approach to systematically assess the safety of the pH test under cut-offs 1-9.

Materials and methods

We mapped out the care pathway according to the existing safety guideline where the pH test is used as a first-line test, followed by chest x-rays. Decision outcomes were scored on a 0-100 scale in terms of safet

SUBMITTER: Ni MZ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5695306 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature