FEEDING TUBE PLACEMENT VERIFICATION USING GASTRIC PH MEASUREMENT

The importance of nutrition in hospitalized patients cannot be underes timated. Proper nutrition is necessary for wound healing, recovery, re duction in morbidity, and consequent reductions in lengths of stay and mortality. Enteral nutrition, preferred over parenteral nutrition bec ause of decreased bacterial translocation and reduced expense, is freq uently delivered via a feeding tube. However, improper position of the feeding tube may result in pulmonary aspiration. Many of the methods currently employed in the verification of feeding tube placement are u nreliable.