Which procedure involves placing a tube through the nose into the stomach for drainage or feeding?

• A. Nasogastric Tube placement
• B. Endoscopy
• C. Colonoscopy
• D. Tracheostomy

Answer: (A)

Nasogastric tube placement involves inserting a flexible tube through the nostril, down the esophagus, and into the stomach to drain gastric contents or to provide enteral feeding. This transnasal route is chosen specifically for access to the stomach when drainage is needed or oral intake isn’t possible. It’s distinct from endoscopy, which uses a camera to visualize the GI tract (and is usually accessed through the mouth or other routes), colonoscopy, which visualizes the colon via the rectum, and tracheostomy, which creates an airway opening in the neck and does not involve the stomach or GI drainage.