NGT

Q: What is the ideal location for a nasogastric tube (NGT) to decompress the stomach?

Answer:  gastric fundus

NGT for the purpose of decompressing the stomach should be targetted to positioned in the gastric fundus. It decreases the risk of getting NGT adherent to the walls of the stomach and so the risk of injury to the gastric mucosa. Also, it provides a wider area of suction around the NGT with better symptomatic relief to the patient.  Less utilized but an effective technique to confirm its placement is to use the bedside ultrasound.

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References: 

Zatelli M, Vezzali N. 4-Point ultrasonography to confirm the correct position of the nasogastric tube in 114 critically ill patients. J Ultrasound. 2016;20(1):53–58. doi:10.1007/s40477-016-0219-0