What is the most accurate method to confirm the placement of a nasogastric tube?

The most accurate method to confirm the placement of a nasogastric tube is through the use of X-ray. This imaging technique allows healthcare professionals to visualize the position of the tube within the gastrointestinal tract, ensuring that it has been correctly placed in the stomach and not in the lungs or other unintended locations.

Using X-ray is particularly important because it provides a clear, definitive assessment of the tube's location, which is critical in preventing complications such as aspiration. While other methods like endoscopy and CT scan can also visualize the internal anatomy and the placement of the tube, they are not routinely used for this purpose due to their invasive nature (in the case of endoscopy) or the increased exposure to radiation (in the case of CT scans). Ultrasound, while useful in many clinical scenarios, is limited in visualizing the nasogastric tube’s placement compared to X-ray. Therefore, X-ray stands out as the most reliable and commonly used method for confirming nasogastric tube position.