A Nasogastric Tube or NGT for short is a thing, soft tube that is passed through the child’s nostril, down the throat, through the oesophagus (food pipe) and into the child’s stomach.
Reasons for a NGT
- Unable to eat as the child is unwell
- Problems with sucking or swallowing
- Treat or prevent dehydration- the child is vomiting or has diarrhoea
- Issues with nutrition
- Unable to swallow medications
- Childs stomach is full of gas and needs to be ‘vented’
What to expect
Inserting a NGT is a short procedure that does not hurt, but can be quite uncomfortable. We will comfort or distract the child to pass the tube quickly and with ease. Sometimes swallowing or sucking can help the tube pass quickly.