What should be done to confirm the placement of an enteral tube?

To confirm the placement of an enteral tube, measuring the pH of gastric contents is a reliable method. When a healthcare provider aspirates stomach contents, the pH can be tested using pH paper or a pH meter. Gastric contents typically have a more acidic pH, usually between 1 and 5. If the pH falls within this range, it provides strong evidence that the tube is correctly positioned in the stomach. This method is favored because it offers a more accurate assessment of tube placement compared to other methods.

Using the air injection method involves pushing air through the tube and listening for sounds in the stomach, but this is not as reliable as measuring pH since it can lead to misplacement or false reassurance of correct placement. Checking the tube length only verifies the external portion of the tube and does not provide information on internal placement. Listening over the abdomen may detect air but does not confirm that the tube is in the gastric space, as air could also enter the intestines or cause false readings due to bowel sounds. Hence, measuring pH is a scientifically substantiated and practical approach to confirm the correct positioning of an enteral tube.