Article Translations: (Spanish)
A nasogastric (NG) tube is a thin, soft tube that goes in through the nose, down the throat, and into the stomach. They're used to feed formula to a child who can't get nutrition by mouth. Sometimes, kids get medicine through the tube.
NG tubes are used for short periods of time, usually a few weeks to months.
Kids need NG tubes when they can't eat and drink enough to stay healthy. This may happen when:
Find out what to expect when your child needs a nasogastric tube.
In the hospital, a health care provider trained in placing NG tubes can insert the tube at a child's bedside. When they do this short procedure, they:
Inserting the tube into the wrong place is a risk of NG tube placement. That's why it's important to be sure the end of the tube reaches into the stomach.
If your child has an NG tube, it's normal to feel a little bit nervous about it at first. But soon you'll feel confident about giving feeds and changing it.
Here are some tips:
Call the care team if your child has any of these symptoms:
If your child has trouble breathing or is choking:
Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice, diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor.
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