Bedside Ultrasound Assessment of Feeding Tube Position in the Intensive Care Unit

Launched by HOSPITAL DE CLINICAS DE PORTO ALEGRE · Oct 5, 2023

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is looking at how well bedside ultrasound can be used to check the correct position of feeding tubes in critically ill adult patients. Feeding tubes are important for providing nutrition and medication when patients can’t eat normally. The study wants to find out if ultrasound is as accurate as traditional x-rays for this purpose and if it can be easily used by doctors who may not have extensive training, especially in busy intensive care units.

To participate in this trial, you must be at least 18 years old and need tube feeding as determined by your medical team. You should also have a feeding tube inserted using standard procedures, with a trained doctor available to perform the ultrasound right after the tube is placed. If you have certain abdominal conditions or have had other specific procedures, you may not be eligible. If you join the study, you can expect to undergo an ultrasound to check the tube position, which could help improve care in the future for patients needing tube feeding.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Age greater than or equal to 18 years old;
• • Need for a tube feeding for receiving diet and/or medication, as indicated by the medical team;
• • Blind insertion of a tube feeding in the intensive care unit, following the standard operating procedure;
• • Presence of a trained physician for ultrasound scanning of the tube feeding immediately after installation.
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Major abdominal postoperative wounds, peritoneostomy, or any other conditions that preclude ultrasound abdominal examination;
• • Exclusive presence of a gastric decompression probe, which does not require radiographic confirmation;
• • Tube feeding introduced under digestive endoscopy guidance;
• • Gestation;
• • Abdominal radiography confirming the tube position obtained before the ultrasound assessment.