Objective: to determine whether insertion of nasogastric or percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy feeding tubes is associated with hypoxaemia.
Methods: dysphagic stroke patients had their arterial oxygen saturation measured by pulse oximetry continuously for 10 minutes before, during and after tube insertion.
Results: in 14 patients nasogastric tube insertion had little effect on oxygen saturation. Six patients maintained oxygen saturation during percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy insertion (whilst on 2 litres oxygen/min) but had a significantly lower median oxygen saturation (P = 0.03) after the procedure (when oxygen was discontinued) and four of these had oxygen saturation of < or =90%.
Conclusions: in this small group of stroke patients, difficult insertions of nasogastric and percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy tubes were associated with moderate hypoxaemia. Clinicians should be aware of the potential impact of tube insertion and ensure patients are appropriately monitored and if necessary receive supplemental oxygen, after as well as during the procedure.