Drug administration via nasogastric tube.

In 2005, the National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA) highlighted concerns about the management of nasogastric tubes following reports of unnecessary deaths because of misplaced feeding tubes in infants, children and adults. During 2006, I investigated the management of nasogastric tubes (NGTs) in children (Clarke and Richardson 2007a, 2007b). This systematic review divided primary papers into three principal themes: enteral feeding via the NGT; confirmation of NGT position and associated incidence of tube placement error; and hydration via the NGT for acute gastroenteritis in children. Findings of the review are summarised here in relation to using the nasogastric tube to administer medication to children with the aim of informing practice and improving safety.