A<unk>  tube is used for feeding and administering drugs and other oral agents such as activated charcoal. For drugs and for minimal quantities of liquid, a syringe is used for injection into the tube. For continuous feeding, a gravity based system is employed, with the solution placed higher than the patient's stomach. If accrued supervision is required for the feeding, the tube is often connected to an electronic pump which can control and measure the patient's intake and signal any interruption in the feeding.<unk>  tubes may also be used as an aid in the treatment of life threatening eating disorders, especially if the patient is not compliant with eating. In such cases, a<unk>  tube may be inserted by force for feeding against the patient's will under restraint. Such a practice may be highly distressing for both patients and healthcare staff.<unk>  aspiration (suction) is the process of draining the stomach's contents via the tube.<unk>  aspiration is mainly used to remove gastrointestinal secretions and swallowed air in patients with gastrointestinal obstructions.<unk>  aspiration can also be used in poisoning situations when a potentially toxic liquid has been ingested, for preparation before surgery under anaesthesia, and to extract samples of gastric liquid for analysis. If the tube is to be used for continuous drainage, it is usually appended to a collector bag placed below the level of the patient's stomach; gravity empties the stomach's contents. It can also be appended to a suction system, however this method is often restricted to emergency situations, as the constant suction can easily damage the stomach's lining. In non-emergency situations, intermittent suction is often applied giving the benefits of suction without the untoward effects of damage to the stomach lining. Suction drainage is also used for patients who have undergone a pneumonectomy in order to prevent anesthesia-related vomiting and possible aspiration of any stomach contents. Such aspiration would represent a serious risk of complications to patients recovering from this surgery.
Nasogastric intubation
Tracheal intubation
Basic airway management
Advanced airway management
Surgical airway management
Blind insertion airway device
Tracheotomy
Laryngeal mask airway