Delays in the Placement of Nasogastric Tube: Where are they

Abstract

Dysphagia following stroke is common and not too infrequently requires a nasogastric tube to be placed. Often there are delays in the pathway between the timing of a decision to place a NGT and it being available and safe to use. This study has examined the time taken between each phase of the pathway and the time taken over all. 150 stroke patients were recruited from 5 English Hospitals. Majority were severe strokes (NIHSS > 15, mRS > 4). From the time of decision making to NGT readiness was 467.15 minutes. There was no significant difference in timings between hospitals. Stroke severi - ty was not a marker for the length of time taken to pass the NGT. It is likely that the need for radiology played a significant role, but would not count for all the differences. The study has demonstrated that some patients wait a long time for a NGT to be ready for use after the clinical decision has been made regarding its placement.