Comparative evaluation of water recovery test and fluoroscopic screening in positioning a nasogastric tube during gastric secretory studies

Abstract

Acid secretion studies were carried out in 50 patients. Fluoroscopy or a modified water recovery test was used to position the nasogastric tube. For every patient each positioning procedure was used on one of two consecutive days, and acid output studies were performed. The tests were assessed by two observers and accepted or rejected. Analysis revealed no significant differences between the acid studies irrespective of the method used for positioning the nasogastric tube. Rejection rates by either procedure showed no significant difference. Practical considerations favour the continued use of water recovery as a means of positioning the nasogastric tube for gastric secretion studies.