What would the nurse do to prevent reflux gastric contents from coming through the blue vent of a gastric sump tube?

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What would the nurse do to prevent reflux gastric contents from coming through the blue vent of a gastric sump tube?

Chapter44:DigestiveandGastrointestinalTreatmentModalities

1.Anurseispreparingtoplaceapatientsorderednasogastrictube.Howshouldthenursebestdetermine

thecorrectlengthofthenasogastrictube?

A)Placedistaltiptonose,theneartipandendofxiphoidprocess.

B)Instructthepatienttolieproneandmeasuretipofnosetoumbilicalarea.

C) Insertthetubeintothepatientsnoseuntilsecretionscanbeaspirated.

D)Obtainanorderfromthephysicianforthelengthoftubetoinsert.

Ans:A

Feedback:

Tubelengthistraditionallydeterminedby(1)measuringthedistancefromthetipofthenosetothe

earlobeandfromtheearlobetothexiphoidprocess,and(2)addingupto6inchesforNGplacementor

atleast8to10inchesormoreforintestinalplacement,althoughstudiesdonotnecessarilyconfirmthat

thisisareliabletechnique.Thephysicianwouldnotprescribeaspecificlengthandtheumbilicusisnota

landmarkforthisprocess.Lengthisnotdeterminedbyaspiratingfromthetube.

2.Apatientisconcernedaboutleakageofgastriccontentsoutofthegastricsumptubethenursehasjust

inserted.Whatwouldthenursedotopreventrefluxgastriccontentsfromcomingthroughthebluevent

ofagastricsumptube?

A) Primethetubingwith20mLofnormalsaline.

B)Keeptheventlumenabovethepatientswaist.

C)MaintainthepatientinahighFowlersposition.

D)Havethepatientpinthetubetothethigh.

Ans:B

Feedback:

Theblueventlumenshouldbekeptabovethepatientswaisttopreventrefluxofgastriccontentsthrough

it;otherwiseitactsasasiphon.Aone-wayanti-refluxvalveseatedinthebluepigtailcanpreventthe

refluxofgastriccontentsouttheventlumen.Topreventreflux,thenursedoesnotprimethetubing,

maintainthepatientinahighFowlersposition,orhavethepatientpinthetubetothethigh.

TestBank-Brunner&Suddarth'sTextbookofMedical-SurgicalNursing14e(Hinkle2017)838

How can the nurse prevent reflux gastric contents through the blue vent of a gastric sump tube?

If using Salem sump, the blue pigtail or air vent should be positioned above the level of the stomach to avoid back flow of stomach secretions.

When inserting a nasogastric tube the nurse determines the appropriate length that the tube will need to be inserted by?

For nasogastric tubes in optimal position, distance from xiphisternum to earlobe to nose + 10 cm provided the best estimate of the internal length.

Which intervention would the nurse use to determine the length of the nasogastric tube to be inserted?

Using the NG tube, measure the length from the earlobe to xiphoid process and from the nose to the earlobe to determine the length that the NG tube must be. After adding the two measurements together, use a piece of tape to mark the total distance on the tube. Inspect the patient's nostrils for obstructions.

Which of the following methods should the nurse use to determine the correct distance to insert a nasogastric tube?

Assess his nostrils for obstruction and choose the nostril with better airflow for tube insertion. Measure the distance from the tip of his nose to his earlobe to the xiphoid process. Mark this length on the tube with a piece of tape. Place a towel over the patient's chest and an emesis basin within reach.