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Review
. 2018 Sep;97(36):e12175.
doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000012175.

Nasointestinal tubes versus nasogastric tubes in the management of small-bowel obstruction: A meta-analysis

Xian-Wen Dong  1 , Shi-Liang Huang, Zhou-Hua Jiang, Yu-Fei Song, Xue-Song Zhang
Affiliations
Review

Nasointestinal tubes versus nasogastric tubes in the management of small-bowel obstruction: A meta-analysis

Xian-Wen Dong et al. Medicine (Baltimore). 2018 Sep.

Abstract

Background: There is no consensus regarding the therapeutic effect of nasointestinal tubes (NITs) versus nasogastric tubes (NGTs) in the management of small-bowel obstruction (SBO). This study aimed to compare the clinical outcomes between the use of NITs and NGTs in the management of SBO.

Methods: Published studies on comparing NITs with NGTs in the treatment of SBO were searched from electronic databases. Two investigators independently extracted the data; any discrepancies were adjudicated by a third investigator. Pooled odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated using Review Manager 5.0.

Results: An extensive literature search identified 268 relevant publications, 4 of which met the inclusion criteria. There were no significant differences in the nonrequirement of operative intervention between NITs and NGTs groups (OR: 1.79; 95% CI: 0.55, 5.84). Compared with the NGTs, the NITs, which successfully passed through the pylorus, did not decrease the rate of operation in patients with SBO (OR: 2.19; 95% CI: 0.59, 8.15). There was no advantage of NITs over NGTs in patients with partial SBO (P-SBO) (OR: 1.04; 95% CI: 0.23, 4.60). Postoperative complications were compared between the groups (OR: 2.13; 95% CI: 1.09, 4.15).

Conclusion: The result of this meta-analysis showed no advantage of NITs over NGTs in the management of patients with SBO.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Flowchart of study selection for meta-analysis.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Forest plot of meta-analysis (A) Nasointestinal tubes (NITs) versus nasogastric tubes (NGTs) in the management of small-bowel obstruction (SBO). Total: number of patients with SBO treated with NITs or NGTs, Events: number of patients with SBO required nonoperative intervention; (B) NITs, which successfully passed through the pylorus (PTP-NITs), versus NGTs in the management of SBO; (C) NITs versus NGTs in the management of partial SBO; (D) NITs versus NGTs in the management of complete SBO; (E) Postoperative complications between NITs and NGTs in the management of SBO. NGT = nasogastric tubes, NIT = nasointestinal tubes, P = partial, PC = postoperative complications, PTP = passed through the pylorus, RCT = randomized controlled trials, SBO = small-bowel obstruction.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Funnel plots of studies included in this meta-analysis.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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