The use of nasogastric tubes after abdominal surgery--a criteria audit.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the use of nasogastric tubes after gastrointestinal surgery. METHOD: Prospective criteria audit. RESULTS: In this study, 32.5% of patients (65/200) undergoing laparotomy had a nasogastric tube inserted during the perioperative period. Of these patients, 20% vomited whilst the tube was in situ and there was a poor correlation between the volumes of fluid aspirated and the timing of tube removal. These results suggest that nasogastric tubes were inserted too often and then left in situ for too long.