Question

What are the two best ways to determine the correct placement of a gavage tube in an infant's stomach?

a) Aspiration of gastric contents and auscultation of air
b) Checking for bowel sounds and assessing for reflux
c) Measuring tube length and observing for abdominal distension
d) Monitoring vital signs and assessing for skin color changes

Answer 1

The correct placement of a gavage tube in an infant's stomach is best determined through the aspiration of gastric contents and auscultation of air, using a stethoscope to confirm the tube's end is in the stomach.

Step-by-step explanation:

The two best ways to determine the correct placement of a gavage tube in an infant's stomach are aspiration of gastric contents and auscultation of air. Aspiration involves extracting a small amount of stomach contents through the tube to verify its presence in the stomach. Auscultation, on the other hand, entails injecting air into the tube while listening over the stomach with a stethoscope to detect a 'whooshing' sound, indicating that the tube's end is in the stomach. These methods are considered the most reliable for confirming the placement of feeding tubes in clinical practice.