In-vitro testing of location indicating nasogastric tube
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Laboratory testing of manufactured prototypes of a location-indicating nasogastric tube in gastric fluid and pulmonary secretions removed from patients as part of their normal treatment.
IRAS ID
105704
Contact name
Barbara Elliott
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust
Research summary
Feeding through a tube passed through the nose into the stomach is very widely used for patients who cannot feed normally. Such tubes are also used to increase patient safety during operations. However, making sure the tube is in the right place is very difficult and has to be done each time a tube is inserted and before a feed. Tubes currently used cannot indicate their position in the body and up to 1 in 5 of them are incorrectly placed. Tubes wrongly placed in the gullet can cause irritation and prevent absorption and if placed in the windpipe or lungs can cause serious complications which can even lead to death. We are developing a new tube which is reliable, sensitive and effective in ‘telling’ the doctor, nurse or carer where they have placed the tube ensuring greater safety and reduced distress to patients and carers. Currently, finding where a tube has been placed involves sampling stomach contents to make a measurement; this involves risks and complications. The new tube can give a measurement at any time without doing this and is quicker, easier, safer and cheaper than present methods. In this study we intend to test manufactured prototypes of the tube in fluid removed from patients’ stomachs or lungs as part of their medical treatment. Fluid awaiting disposal will be transported to a laboratory at University of Hull, where the tests will be performed, and then the fluid will be disposed of in the normal way within 1 month of collection.
REC name
South Central - Berkshire B Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
13/SC/0314
Date of REC Opinion
28 May 2013
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion