Which tube is inserted through the nose into the stomach to provide short-term feeding or to remove gas?

Which tube is inserted through the nose into the stomach to provide short-term feeding or to remove gas?

• A. Tracheostomy
• B. Endotracheal tube
• C. Nasogastric tube
• D. Endobronchial tube

Answer: (C)

The tube that goes through the nose into the stomach for short-term feeding or gas removal is a nasogastric tube. It provides direct access to the stomach via the nasal passage, making it ideal for quickly delivering nutrition or decompressing the stomach when needed. It’s specifically designed for enteral access to the stomach, which is different from airway tubes. A tracheostomy creates an opening in the trachea for breathing; an endotracheal tube sits in the trachea to secure the airway; an endobronchial tube is used to ventilate a specific lung via a bronchus. Proper placement must be verified—through aspirating gastric contents or imaging—to ensure it’s in the stomach and not the lungs. For longer-term feeding, a gastrostomy is often used instead.

The tube that goes through the nose into the stomach for short-term feeding or gas removal is a nasogastric tube. It provides direct access to the stomach via the nasal passage, making it ideal for quickly delivering nutrition or decompressing the stomach when needed. It’s specifically designed for enteral access to the stomach, which is different from airway tubes. A tracheostomy creates an opening in the trachea for breathing; an endotracheal tube sits in the trachea to secure the airway; an endobronchial tube is used to ventilate a specific lung via a bronchus. Proper placement must be verified—through aspirating gastric contents or imaging—to ensure it’s in the stomach and not the lungs. For longer-term feeding, a gastrostomy is often used instead.