A narrow plastic tube that is passed through the nose, down the oesophagus, and into the stomach. Nasogastric tubes are commonly used to suck or drain digestive juices from the stomach when the intestine is blocked (as in pyloric stenosis) or is not working properly (as may occur after an abdominal operation). A nasogastric tube is also used to give liquid nourishment to patients who cannot eat (see feeding, artificial), to obtain specimens of stomach secretions for examination, and to wash out the stomach after a drug overdose or after swallowing a poison (see lavage, gastric).
Nasogastric tube |
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