Nasogastric intubation in equine

1. Arvind Sharma

2.  to determine if gastric distension is present.
 to administer lubricant oils in cases of colic
due to simple intestinal impaction.
 is helpful in identifying diseases affecting the
stomach or upper small intestine.

3.  a gastric reflux in the form of gas and fluid
is obtained back from the stomach through
the Nasogastric tube and as a result the
relieving of excess gas and fluid from the
equine stomach is known as gastric
decompression.
 greater the volume of gastric reflux, the
more proximal the lesion.
 There is no correlation between the amount
of fluid obtained and the need for surgical or
medical management.

4.  The pH of 6.0 or more is an indication of reverse
flow of intestinal secretions into the stomach
lumen.
 Fluid containing feed material - gastric dilatation
or stasis as the cause of colic
 Yellow green fluid - bile reflux originating distal
to the common bile – pancreatic duct.
 Brown or reddish fluid - mucosal damage with
haemorrhage ( small intestinal strangulation or
haemorrhagic gastroenteritis)
 Repeated reflux of fluid suggests small intestinal
strangulation or duodenojejunitis.

5.  A large diameter tube (20mm OD, 12mm ID; or
16mm OD, 8mmID)
 Tetanus toxoid prophylactic injection (5-10ml IM)
or if possible an Anti- tetanus serum (1500-3000
IU IM).
 tranquilization/sedation of the animal should be
avoided because it causes the relaxation of the
epiglottis and tracheal muscles and increases the
chances of passage of the tube into the trachea.
In such cases sometimes the sedatives depress
the cough reflex also.
 mild sedation with Xylazine (0.2-0.5mg IV) can
be given in fractious patients.

7.  Restrain in standing position in a crush or
even in the open using ear and lip twitch.
 The head should never be extended
forwards but is allowed to remain in the
same position in which the animal carries it
while standing.
 Lightly coat the tube end with lubricant or
oil. Stand lateral to the horse. Insert the
tube into the ventral medial aspect of
nostril.

8.  Directing the tube ventromedially minimizes the
trauma to nasal turbinates and therefore
decreases the incidence of epistaxis.
 If epistaxis occurs during intubation, wait for 5-
10 minutes and then proceed using the other
nostril.
 minor complication and does not warrant
discontinuing the procedure.
 Confirm that the tube has entered the esophagus
by palpation of the tube in the oesophagus.
 Palpate the left side of the neck dorsal to the
jugular groove.

9. Rohtang Pass , Gateway to Lahaul Valley, Himachal Pradesh