Let's talk about placement of small bore nasoenteric feeding tubes and use of ultrasound for this (A thread)
Scenario: Pt with gastroparesis and COVID/ARDS, planning to prone, want post-pyloric tube. No dedicated team for this. Can we place safely w #POCUS guidance?
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How is small bore feeding tube (SBFT) different from standard NG?
Narrower (6-8 Fr vs 14-18 Fr), more flexible (but w rigid stylet for placement), longer. Thus: more comfortable, gastric or post-pyloric, ineffective for suction, prone to clogging, prone to PTX if placed in lung.
Some methods used for placement 1) Blind placement - NOT RECOMMENDED. 1-2% risk of PTX 2) 2 radiograph method (safe but time consuming) 3) Capnometry 4) Endoscopic visualization 5) Electromagnetic 6) Fluoroscopic 7) Ultrasound?
Let's talk about the methods that can be done safely with x-ray and #POCUS.
-the 2 radiograph method
-ultrasound confirmation (neck and subxyphoid)
Reminder before advancing tube into nose: remember to verify no history of recent ENT procedures!
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First the 2-radiograph method 1) Step 1: place to 30 cm 2) Step 2: CXR. If tube below carina, advance further. If in airway, remove and repeat.
This is a safe method, but time consuming
See below: initial placement in airway, requiring adjustment. Good thing for 30 cm CXR! 5/
What about #POCUS? First we will talk about the technique, then look at whether or not this can be done consistently/safely
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The technique (preferably 2 operator) 1) Place to 20-30 cm. Place linear probe transverse over midline neck and attempt to visualize bright tube in esophagus (lateral to trachea on either side). This is similar to (but opposite) ultrasound for endotracheal tube confirmation.
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The technique (continued) 2) Confirm in long axis.
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The technique (continued)
2) Ideally move the tube and verify that the bright structure moves, and is in fact the feeding tube.
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The technique (continued) 3) Confirm again that this is in the esophagus (not trachea) by return to short axis.
(This is somewhat similar in idea to wire confirmation in CVC placement)
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The technique (continued) 4) Pause. This is the key step in safety.
If the tube is in the trachea and is advanced further, PTX may occur. If there is any doubt whatsoever, obtain CXR. In theory, if esophageal placement definitively confirmed, tube can be advanced.
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The technique (continued) 5) Advance into stomach/post pyloric. Can attempt to visualize in stomach/duodenum with ultrasound using phased array or curvilear probe placed over epigastrium.
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Tube in stomach/duodenum in short axis
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The technique (continued)
If a separate NG is in place already, can suction out all air and fill with 60-180 cc fluid to optimize acoustic window.
In this image, tube in seen in duodenum in long axis.
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The Technique (continued) 6) Obtain abdominal xray to verify placement (and perhaps CXR as well to exclude PTX)
(Here we see tip of tube in second portion of duodenum)
7) Remove stylet, ok to use
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So we see that this method can be done. But there are still many questions 1) How reliable/safe is this? 2) How often can the views be obtained (esophageal or gastric/duodenal) 3) Is this worth the time/effort, compared to other methods?
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Study by Gok et al, 56 patients underwent tube placement, with esophageal visualization in 52 (94%) and no complications. When esophageal visualization not seen, 1/4 (25%) had tracheal placement. In 3/4 cases, tube was not seen for unclear reasons. onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.117…
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In a study by Nedel et al, 41 pts were evaluated for tube placement by ultrasound.
Sens 97%, NPV: 66% (if not seen in correct position, could still be correct or misplaced)
Spec and PPV: 100% (if seen to be in correct position, was always correct)
In summary of these data, it seems that if the tube is definitively seen in the esophagus, it is 100% likely to be in the esophagus and can be advanced. If it is not seen, it may or may not be in the esophagus, and a CXR should be obtained before advancing a small bore tube.
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Some closing points
-risk of PTX w small bore feeding tube placement is real. If any doubt, get CXR at 30-35 cm
-POCUS can guide placement
-still get abd xray before using in most cases
-a dedicated team is ideal, but if unfeasible, US guided placement may help
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What do others think about the use of ultrasound for placement of small bore feeding tube?
Who has done this? What have been your experiences?
It has become important to add a bit more description on 1) what exactly is a SBFT? 2) what does this mean for the lungs? 3) how high really is the PTX risk?
Would like to emphasize: standard NG placed blindly, minimal PTX risk. But SBFT placed blindly does have PTX risk.
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small bore feeding tube - some names include dobhoff, duotube, corpak, and probably others. (i.e. Dobhoff is a type of SBFT)
SBFT: 6-10 Fr = 2-3 mm outer diameter (OD)
Standard NG: 14-18 Fr = 5-6 mm OD
Peds bronchoscope (Q190): 4.8 mm OD
Therapeutic scope (TH190): 6 mm OD
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What does this mean for the lung?
The standard NG will not pass the main bronchi (not quite as far as a peds bronchoscope)
The SBFT will reach terminal bronchioles. It can be believed that this would increase PTX risk.
Thanks all for the discussion. Ultimately, this is probably not the highest yield POCUS application, but an interesting one to consider, and may be time-saving compared to the 2-radiograph method, if that is the alternative.
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1/ Happy Monday everyone! We have a special case for you today written by UPMC PGY2 #POCUS enthusiast @MikeTao15.
A 52 yo M with hx of EtOH/HCV cirrhosis, VTE on Eliquis, HFrEF presents w worsening abd distention and pain. He is disoriented and unable to give much history.
2/ Cirrhosis previously complicated by esophageal varices, hepatic encephalopathy, and ascites. No follow up since last hospital admission at outside facility ~1 year ago. Has not been taking meds.
Vitals in the ED: Temp 38.1, HR 90, BP 98/70, Pulse Ox 96% on 2L
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He is lethargic, arousable to voice and oriented to self only
+scleral icterus
Cardiac + pulmonary exams normal
Abdomen distended, diffusely tender, no rebound/guarding
2+ b/l edema to thighs
Jaundiced, scattered ecchymoses
+asterixis
2/ HPI:
well until 3 months ago. Since then, progressive fatigue, nausea, mild diffuse itching without rash. Few weeks of early satiety, poor PO intake, and now increasing abdominal girth. Last BM 3 days ago. No vomiting. Weight unchanged over 3 months. No fevers/chills.
3/ No home meds. 2-3 etoh drinks per day (none for a few wks). Unable to work due to symptoms. Past 1-2 days he has become confused and unable to ambulate.
We will start with a hypothetical case for illustration
65 y/o f w HFpEF, COPD admitted 4 days ago with acute pancreatitis (now resolved). You are prepping her for discharge but she is now short of breath/hypoxic requiring 4 L O2.
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Reportedly coughed a lot after dinner yesterday. Has not gotten any inhalers or antiHTN meds this hosp stay.
Net positive 4L. HR 88 SpO2 90% 4L BP 165/90 RR 22 T 99.8. WBC 22 (from 12 a day ago).
JVP not seen RRR, +S1/S2, 2/6 SEM
Bibasilar crackles, No LE edema. BNP 150.
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These 2 IVC M-mode images were obtained from the same patient 10 seconds apart. How could they be so different?
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60 m with hx of COPD, HFpEF, admitted w LLL PNA s/p abx and 1 L LR. HR 118 BP 110/70. IVC US was performed as a piece of info in determining whether to administer more IVF.
First of all, how do you look at the IVC?
A common method is subxyphoid long axis, B mode or M mode. See below
-photo from emedicine.medscape.com/article/104401…
-excerpt from WikiM (wikem.org/wiki/IVC_ultra…) for a nice description
-an annotated sample B mode image and M mode image
Renal #IMPOCUS case here! Will start w case stem, more info and poll below, #POCUS images to come
65 m w hx of BPH, kidney stones, in ED w fevers/chills/N/V/back pain. Dx acute pyelo, possible stone
What is our approach to imaging, and mgmt plan? Role of POCUS in this case?
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More info
Prior dx of kidney stones on CT (6-8 mm, unknown type), managed medically. Has intermittent L flank pain. Last 2 days - f/c/n/v/back pain.
T 38.6 HR 98 BP 154/88 SpO2 99%
UA: 1+ blood, 3+ LE, WBC TNTC
+L CVA and suprapubic tenderness
WBC 18
Cr 1.6 (baseline 1.3)
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Pt admitted with a diagnosis of acute pyelonephritis and possible kidney stones and started on ceftriaxone. Foley was placed with difficulty but has drained 200 cc in the few minutes since placement
How specifically could POCUS help here? What POCUS question(s) exactly?
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