Question

A patient has had an OG tube placed and enteral feeding is scheduled to begin. Which of the following is TRUE?

A) Confirm placement by x-ray of chest and abdomen
B) The area must be dopplered for proper placement of tube
C) Auscultate over lung fields and abdomen to ensure proper placement.
D) Start feeding and then monitor for tube-feed colored secretions when suctioning

Answer 1

The correct method to confirm the placement of an OG tube before starting enteral feeding is through an x-ray of the chest and abdomen.

Step-by-step explanation:

When a patient has had an oro-gastric (OG) tube placed and is scheduled to begin enteral feeding, it is essential to confirm the correct placement of the tube. The correct approach to ensuring the placement of an OG tube is to confirm it through an x-ray of the chest and abdomen, which is option A) Confirm placement by x-ray of chest and abdomen. This method is used to visualize the tube's trajectory and confirm it is not misplaced in the lungs or other areas which could lead to serious complications, such as aspiration pneumonia. Confirming the correct position by chest and abdominal x-ray before starting enteral feeding is a critical step to ensure the safety of the patient.