Nasogastric tube position on chest x-ray (summary)
Last revised by Henry Knipe on 26 Apr 2022
Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data
Citation:
Jones J, Knipe H, Ayesa S, et al. Nasogastric tube position on chest x-ray (summary). Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 19 Apr 2024) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-31405
rID:
31405
Article created:
7 Oct 2014,
Jeremy Jones ◉
Disclosures:
At the time the article was created Jeremy Jones had no recorded disclosures.
View Jeremy Jones's current disclosures
Last revised:
Disclosures:
At the time the article was last revised Henry Knipe had the following disclosures:
- Radiopaedia Events Pty Ltd, Speaker fees (past)
- Integral Diagnostics, Shareholder (ongoing)
- Micro-X Ltd, Shareholder (ongoing)
These were assessed during peer review and were determined to not be relevant to the changes that were made.
View Henry Knipe's current disclosures
Revisions:
25 times, by
9 contributors -
see full revision history and disclosures
Systems:
Sections:
Tags:
Synonyms:
- NG tube position on chest x-ray (summary)
This is a basic article for medical students and other non-radiologists
Nasogastric (NG) tube position on chest x-ray should be assessed following initial placement and on subsequent radiographs.
Reference article
This is a summary article; we have a more in-depth reference article NGT.
Summary
-
confirming position
- x-rays are only performed when the position is uncertain
- most tube positions are checked by assessing pH of tube aspirate
-
normal
- tube descends the thorax in the midline
- tube bisects the carina
- tube crosses the diaphragm in the midline
- the tip sits below the diaphragm
-
viewing the tube
- you need to be confident that you can see the tip
- most tubes are visible on a chest x-ray without a guide wire
- changing the windowing of the radiograph is helpful
- if you are not sure, discuss with a senior
-
malposition
- nasogastric tubes may end up in the airways
- feeding through a malpositioned tube can be disastrous
Quiz questions
{"containerId":"expandableQuestionsContainer","displayRelatedArticles":true,"displayNextQuestion":true,"displaySkipQuestion":true,"articleId":31405,"questionManager":null,"mcqUrl":"https://radiopaedia.org/articles/nasogastric-tube-position-on-chest-x-ray-summary/questions/2099?iframe=true\u0026lang=us"}
References
- 1. NHS National Patient Safety Alert (2011) PDF
Incoming Links
Cases:
- Nasogastric tube in the right lung
- Surfactant deficiency disorder and Broviac line
- Overlying densities simulating pneumothorax
- Malpositioned nasogastric tube
- Kinked nasogastric tube
- Spinnaker sign - pneumomediastinum
- Nasogastric tube terminating in left bronchus
- Misplaced nasogastric tube - right main bronchus
- Nasogastric tube position confirmation
- Misplaced nasogastric tube
- Normal positioning of chest lines and tubes (portable radiograph)
- Feeding tube in the pleural space
- Misplaced nasogastric tube - pharyngeal perforation
- Nasogastric tube in left lower lobar bronchus
- Incorrect nasogastric tube positioning
- Nasogastric tube in right main bronchus
- Misplaced nasogastric tube into the left lung
- Misplaced nasogastric tube resulting in pneumothorax
- Nasogastric tube in bronchi
- Pneumothorax as a consequence of a malpositioned naso-gastric tube
Multiple choice questions:
Related articles: Education: Medical student curriculum
- radiology for students
-
neuroradiology
- imaging
- key findings
- conditions
- presentations
- cardiac radiology
-
chest radiology
- imaging
- key findings
- conditions
- presentations
-
abdominal radiology
- imaging
- key findings
- conditions
- upper GI
- lower GI
- hepatopancreatobiliary
- genitourinary
- vascular
- breast
- presentations
-
musculoskeletal radiology
- imaging
- key findings
- interpretation
- conditions
- upper limb
- lower limb
- pelvic fractures
- proximal femoral fractures
- distal fibula fracture
- 5th metatarsal fracture
- pediatrics
- spine
- major trauma
- joint pain/arthritis
- presentations
- upper limb
- lower limb
- hip trauma
- lower limb injury
- foot and ankle injury
- joint pain/arthritis
-
obstetrics and gynecology imaging
- imaging
- pelvic US - transabdominal
- pelvic US - transvaginal
- hysterosalpingogram
- CT abdomen
- MRI pelvis
- key findings
- endometrial thickening
- ovarian cysts
- conditions
- non-obstetric
- pelvic inflammatory disease
- tubo-ovarian abscess
- ovarian torsion
- ovarian neoplasms
- endometriosis
- endometrial hyperplasia
- endometrial carcinoma
- cervical cancer
- obstetric
- normal pregnancy
- abnormal first trimester
- ectopic pregnancy
- heterotopic pregnancy
- twins
- non-obstetric
- presentations
- PV bleeding
- pelvic pain
- PV discharge
- early pregnancy
- imaging
-
pediatric radiology
- imaging
- key findings
- conditions
- presentations