Evaluation of Adverse Effects ofNasogastric Intubations in Abdominal Surgery

Background and For the past years, tubes have been inserted into the stomach via the nose (nasogastric Tube: NGT) for the purpose of evacuating gas and liquid routinely, and for the prevention of nausea, and vomiting. However, there are no evidences regarding its efficacy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the post abdominal surgery complications either NGT inserted or not. In this clinical trial comparative study, 100 consecutive patients who underwent abdominal surgery (elective or urgency) were included in the study. They were divided in two groups: one was inserted NGT before anesthesia and remained until after initiation of bowel movement (control) and another without an incubated (case). Post surgery complications was similar in both groups (P>0.05): nausea (26% vs. 18%), vomiting (4% vs. 6%), fever (10% vs. 6%), bowel movement time (22.8 ± 10.84 vs. 21.84 ± 9.21), pulmonary complications (2% in both), wound infection (4% in both), duration of stay in hospital (2.58 ± 1.62 vs. 2.47 ± 1.6 days) in controls and cases respectively. Only sore throat was significantly more frequent in control group (74% vs. 16%). These results suggest that routine and prophylactic insertion of NGT is not necessary, cannot reduce complications and also leads to patient's discomfort. Therefore, it must be saved in some specific indications.