American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) Certification Practice Test

For patients at high risk of aspiration, which feeding tube is recommended?

1. Gastrotomy tube

2. NG tube

3. Duodenal tube

4. TPN

The correct answer is: Duodenal tube

In the context of patients at high risk of aspiration, the recommended feeding tube is a duodenal tube. This type of feeding tube is designed to bypass the stomach and deliver nutrition directly into the duodenum, which is the first segment of the small intestine. This method not only minimizes the risk of aspiration but also aids in reduced gastric reflux, making it a safer option for individuals who may have difficulty managing oral secretions or have swallowing difficulties. This direct access to the small intestine allows for enteral nutrition to be delivered while largely avoiding the complications associated with aspiration. In contrast, a gastrotomy tube, which involves surgically placing a tube directly into the stomach, does not significantly mitigate the risk of aspiration and can still lead to reflux and subsequent aspiration events. A nasogastric (NG) tube also presents similar risks since it terminates in the stomach, where aspirated contents may occur. TPN, or total parenteral nutrition, bypasses the gastrointestinal tract altogether by providing nutrition intravenously, but it is not a direct feeding option and may not always be necessary. Thus, the duodenal tube is the most appropriate for patients who are at a high risk of aspiration, as it effectively reduces the potential for inhal