Technique
- explaining the maneuver to the conscious patient
- removal of dental prostheses
- choosing a probe of suitable caliber and its lubrication
- measuring the nose-umbilical distance with the probe
- anesthesia of the nasal and oral cavities with lidocaine spray
- lubrication of the probe 6-10 cm distally
- sitting position with the head slightly bent forward, the probe is inserted nasally (usually through the wider nostril) or orally, at the same time the patient is invited to breathe deeply and especially to swallow (possibly to suck water through a tube). Encountering forward resistance can be resolved by slightly rotating the probe.
- checking the correct position of the probe is done by refluxing the gastric liquid or by blowing air with a gastric syringe (20-50 ml air) and auscultating the hydro-aerial sounds at the level of the epigastrium
- after checking, the probe is fixed with the help of adhesive tapes
- aspiration of secretions by connecting to a bag positioned on a slope
- light suction with a negative pressure of 20-30 cm of water
- patients who have disorders of consciousness will be intubated beforehand
- compensating important digestive losses
- in the case of thin feeding probes, radiological control is done to verify the position of the tip of the probe.