Home > Encyclopedia of Medicine > Nasogastric Suction

Definition

Nasogastric suction involves removing solids, liquids, or gasses from the stomach or small intestine by inserting a tube through the nose and suctioning the gastrointestinal material through the tube.

Purpose

Nasogastric suction may be done in the following situations:

• to decompress the stomach or small intestine when intestinal obstruction (ileus) is suspected
• prior to gastrointestinal operations
• to obtain a sample of the gastric contents for analysis
• to remove toxic substances
• to flush the stomach during gastrointestinal bleeding or poisonings

Nasogastric intubation, the insertion of a tube through the nose into the stomach or small intestine, is also done to temporarily feed certain patients. In this case, material is not suctioned out.

Precautions