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Comparing Two Methods to Measure Nasogastric Tube Length

Comparing Two Methods for Estimating Nasogastric Tube Length: A Randomized Control Study

Status
Not yet recruiting
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT06982495
Enrollment
220
Registered
2025-05-21
Start date
2025-06-30
Completion date
2025-12-31
Last updated
2025-05-29

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Intubation; Complication, Intubation Depth, Intubation Intraesophageal, Intubation, Nasogastric, Intubation Times

Brief summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if using a novel nasogastric tube assisted placement system (NCKU-NG system) can more accurately place the nasogastric tube at the optimal position in the stomach compared to conventional blind insertion techniques in adult inpatients requiring nasogastric tube placement. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Does the NCKU-NG system improve the accuracy of nasogastric tube placement at the optimal gastric position compared to standard blind insertion? * Does the NCKU-NG system reduce the rate of misplacement (such as entry into the airway or inadequate gastric depth), number of repeated attempts, and complication rate compared to the conventional method? * Can estimation of nasogastric tube length using the NCKU-NG system provide a more reliable reference than external measurement or X-ray? Researchers will compare patients randomized to nasogastric tube insertion with the NCKU-NG system (intervention arm) versus conventional blind insertion following standard external measurement methods (control arm) to see if the NCKU-NG system improves placement accuracy and reduces adverse events. Participants will: * Be randomized to one of two groups: * Intervention group: Receive nasogastric tube insertion using the NCKU-NG system (video-assisted real-time visualization, with active confirmation of passage through the esophagogastric junction and final position in the stomach based on sidehole location). * Control group: Receive traditional nasogastric tube blind bedside insertion based on standard measurement (eg. Nose-Earlobe-Xiphoid + 10 cm). * All procedures will use the same material nasogastric tube (16 French polyurethane radiopaque tube). * Undergo confirmation of tube position by X-ray within 8 hours post-insertion for both groups. * Have the following outcomes assessed: * Placement accuracy (percentage of tubes placed at optimal predefined gastric position) * Number of placement attempts and failures * Rate of inadvertent airway or inadequate placement * Incidence of complications (e.g., aspiration, pneumothorax, gastrointestinal tract injury) * Correlation between video-assisted measurement and X-ray estimation of intragastric length

Interventions

Nasogastric tube insertion with a novel nasogastric tube assisted placement system (NCKU-NG system)

OTHERConventional blind insertion

Conventional blind insertion following standard external measurement methods (eg. Nose-Earlobe-Xiphoid + 10 cm)

Sponsors

National Cheng-Kung University Hospital
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
TRIPLE (Subject, Caregiver, Outcomes Assessor)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Adults (aged ≥18 years) * Patients requiring nasogastric tube placement * Patients who are hospitalized

Exclusion criteria

* Patients with a chest wound that prevents palpation of the xiphoid process * Patients who have had a gastrectomy * Patients with a gastric tumor * Patients with a head and neck tumor * Patients who are agitated and difficult to place the nasogastric tube * Patients with abnormal esophageal structure * Patients with a basilar skull fracture * Patients with acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding * Patients with an expected lifespan of less than 48 hours * Patients who cannot undergo an X-ray confirmation (e.g., pregnant women) * Patients with unstable blood pressure (mean arterial pressure \< 65 mmHg) * Patients with ischemic, perforated, or obstructed bowel * Patients with high-output fistula/ostomy * Patients using photosensitive drugs * Critically ill patients * Patients with acute needs as determined by the attending physician * Patients with a Glasgow Coma Scale score \< 8

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Placement accuracyWithin 8 hours after the completion of a nasogastric tube insertion; that is, after the X-ray was takenPercentage of tubes placed at optimal predefined gastric position

Secondary

MeasureTime frame
First-attempt success rateThe moment after the completion of an nasogastric tube insertion
Number of placement attemptsThe moment after the completion of an nasogastric tube insertion
Insertion timeThe moment after the completion of an nasogastric tube insertion
Incidence of complicationsA week after the completion of an nasogastric tube insertion
Correlation between video-assisted measurement and X-ray estimation of intragastric lengthWithin 8 hours after the completion of an nasogastric tube insertion

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026