“You Wanna Do What?!” Modern Indications for Nasogastric Intubation

Through the years, patients have asked their physicians why they needed nasogastric inbutation (NGI), a painful test. Some recent studies have also questioned the utility of NGI for several indications, enabling physicians to use judgment in offering it to patients. This article reviews the use of NGI for its traditional indications: gastrointestinal bleeding, presenting with or without hematemesis; gastric decompression; and the administration of treatment. It concludes with suggestions for limiting the pain of the procedure for patients who need it.