Introduction
The nasogastric tube (NGT) has been widely accepted for routine
perioperative use in surgical patients for decades. NGTs are used to
decompress the gastric contents or to administer feeds and or
medications for patients unable to tolerate oral intake [1,2]. In
cardiac surgery particularly, NGTs have been used for post-operative
nausea and vomiting (PONV) which occurs very commonly, however the role
of NGTs in reducing this complication has been controversial in the
literature [3]. The capability of early delivering medications, such
as aspirin after coronary artery bypass grafting, adds more utility to
NGT use in the immediate postoperative period [4,5]. There are
ongoing debates regarding the efficacy of NGTs, whether they are
necessary, and the complications NGT may cause. While some authors
consider that postoperative NGT insertion should be the standard of care
to minimize the incidence of PONV, alleviate gastric distension, and
reduce risk of pulmonary complications [6], some argue that NGTs are
ineffective for the prophylactic purposes suggested and can even
exacerbate negative outcomes in postoperative patients.
In this paper, we review the current evidence regarding the safety and
efficacy of NGT use following cardiac surgery with particular emphasis
on its potential role in enhancing recovery in this group of patients.