Evaluating the Accuracy and Cost-Effectiveness of Bedside Methods for Nasoenteral Feeding Tube Position Confirmation

This study analyzed the accuracy and costs of three bedside methods for confirming the position of nasoenteral feeding tubes newly inserted blindly by nurses, comparing them to radiography. Conducted with 76 adult patients who underwent 87 tube insertions, the methods evaluated were ultrasound, epigastric auscultation, and pH measurement. Results showed that pH measurement had the highest sensitivity (89.3%) and specificity (100%), followed by epigastric auscultation (sensitivity 81.3%, specificity 83.3%) and ultrasound (sensitivity 79.0%, specificity 66.7%). While radiography remains the gold standard, pH measurement was the most expensive method at USD $8.31, suggesting that non-radiological methods could provide cost-effective alternatives.