Nasogastric Intubation
Equine

 Indications for performing this procedure:  Nasogastric intubation is used for the assessment of gastric reflux, detection of esophageal obstruction, the passage of nutrients or medication into the stomach, and various other procedures.  In cases where neoplasia of the upper GI tract is suspected, a nasogastric tube may be passed simply to assess the patency of the upper airways and the esophagus. 


The Procedure:  A flexible tube should be used, as it is less likely to cause damage to the mucous membranes.  If there is tissue protruding into the esophagus (such as with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma), the passage of the tube may elicit a pain response in the horse, or the clinician may even have difficulty passing the tube.  As a note of caution, however, in cases of choke (which includs cases of esophageal neoplasia), the tube may slide past the obstruction with no apparent resistance, giving the false impression that an obstruction does not exist or that it has passed to the stomach.


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