TYPES OF NASOGASTRIC TUBES

The two types of tubes commonly used are Levin and Salem Sump tubes. The Levin tube consists of a single lumen with multiple distal perforations, through which gastric contents can be aspirated or fluids / medications can be infused.

The Salem Sump tube is a double lumen tube. The main lumen (which is similar to the Levin tube) is used for aspiration and infusion, whereas the secondary (smaller and blue colored) lumen serves to vent the tube to the atmosphere, preventing excessive vacuum at the distal tip and allowing continued evacuation of the stomach contents. Click here to see a larger image.  (The two lumens of the Salem tube are analogous to the large and small holes on the top of a portable gasoline container; adequate evacuation of the container through the larger, main hole is dependent on venting through the smaller, secondary hole.) The blue port should not be aspirated but it may be flushed with 10cc of air if it becomes occluded. Standard vacuum settings are <40 mmHg for the Levin and <125 mmHg for the Salem sump. 16 Both should be placed on intermittent suction to reduce trauma to the GI mucosa.

Standard adult tube size is 14-18 French (F). (The size refers to the tube diameter, with higher numbers referring to larger diameters. The tubes are of standard length; depth of insertion depends on patient characteristics and is discussed in the Procedure section .) Pediatric sizes are as follows. 19 :

Preterm: 5F

Newborn: 5-8F

Infant: 5-8F
1 year: 8F

3 years: 8F

6 years: 10F

10 years: 10-12F
Adolescent >12F