CClinicalTrials.gg
Status unknownNCT04001985Updated Sep 30, 2019

Nasogastric Tube Clamping Trial vs. Immediate Removal

An interventional study of No clamp trial and Clamp trial in Small Bowel Obstruction and Ileus, sponsored by University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria. Status unknown at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2019-09-30.

Sponsored by University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment

The sponsor has not verified this record recently (last verified Sep 2019), so the status shown — last known as Not yet recruiting — may be out of date.
Phase
Not applicable
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
150
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
18 Years and older
Sex
All
01

Study summary

The primary objective is to assess the need of clamping nasogastric tubes (NG) before removal. Outcomes of patients admitted requiring nasogastric tube decompression will be compared. Patients with small bowel obstruction (SBO), post-operative ileus, and ileus on admission that require nasogastric tube placement will be included in the study. The patients will be divided into two groups when return of bowel function is suspected based on set criteria for automatic removal of nasogastric tube versus nasogastric tube clamp trial.

Specific outcomes will be occurrence of nasogastric tube replacement, number of emeses if any, failure of clamp trial, aspiration pneumonia, and any other unplanned outcome.

Read the detailed description

A high volume of patients are admitted to hospitals yearly for bowel obstruction/ileus complications. Lifetime risk of small bowel obstruction varies from 0.1%-5% if patients have not undergone abdominal surgery, but increases to 30% if the patient underwent a prior abdominal surgery. Ileus is also a common complication in the short term post-operative period. Both of these conditions are initially treated with nasogastric tube decompression if the patient is having emesis.

The investigators were unable to find any literature that shows a concrete volume of nasogastric tube output that was deemed the maximum for safe removal. Signs of return of bowel function can indicate it is safe to remove the nasogastric tube. These include flatus, bowel movements, decrease in nasogastric tube output amount, change of nasogastric tube output color from bilious (green) to more gastric (yellow) or salivary (clear/foamy) quality. Some physicians prefer to perform a clamp trial before removal of the nasogastric tube. The duration of the trial and cutoff amount of residual drainage varies among physicians. Regardless of the duration, the nasogastric tube is essentially stenting open the lower esophageal sphincter while it is left in place and not connected to suction. This, theoretically, places the patient at risk for aspiration and subsequent pneumonia. Information in the literature appears divided in regard to aspiration risk.

This study hopefully will support the statement that it is safe to remove the nasogastric tube with signs of bowel function, without the need for clamp trials and thus avoiding any possible adverse outcomes associated with the trial. The investigators also anticipate that this study will provide objective guidelines on which patients will continue to improve after nasogastric tube removal.

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Conditions studied

  • Small Bowel Obstruction
  • Ileus
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In context

Intestinal Obstruction

160 studies on the registry are indexed under Intestinal Obstruction; 27 are open to participants now.

This study's planned enrollment of 150 is above the median of 80 across 80 interventional studies indexed under Intestinal Obstruction.

Browse Intestinal Obstruction studies →

Lead sponsor

University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria is the lead sponsor of 5 studies on the registry; 1 is open to participants now.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years and older
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

  • Males or females 18 years or older
  • Admitted under any of the teaching surgical services for small bowel obstruction or ileus, or develops post-operative ileus
  • Patient agreeable to participation in the study

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Under the age of 18
  • Patient self-removes the NG requiring replacement will be removed from study
05

Study design

Phase
Not applicable
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
None (open label)
Enrollment
150 participants (estimated)

Study arms

  • Active comparator
    Immediate NG tube removal

    Once the NG tube output is less than 500 mL over a 24 hour period with at least two other signs of return of bowel function the NG tube will be removed. Other signs of bowel function include flatus, bowel movement, change of NG tube output from bilious to more clear/frothy character, and hunger.

    Other: No clamp trial

  • Active comparator
    NG tube clamp trial

    Once the NG tube output is less than 500 mL over a 24 hour period with at least two other signs of return of bowel function, a 4 hour clamp trial will be performed. Other signs of bowel function include flatus, bowel movement, change of NG tube output from bilious to more clear/frothy character, and hunger. The NG tube will be taken off of suction and clamped. The NG tube is then reconnected to suction at the end of the four hour clamp trial and removed if less 125 mL drains or kept in place if greater than 125 mL drains. The same initial criteria are used again to determine if a clamp trial will be performed after 24 hours.

    Other: Clamp trial

Interventions

  • OtherNo clamp trial

    Once the NG tube output is less than 500 mL over a 24 hour period with at least two other signs of return of bowel function the NG tube will be removed. Other signs of bowel function include flatus, bowel movement, change of NG tube output from bilious to more clear/frothy character, and hunger.

  • OtherClamp trial

    Once the NG tube output is less than 500 mL over a 24 hour period with at least two other signs of return of bowel function, a 4 hour clamp trial will be performed. Other signs of bowel function include flatus, bowel movement, change of NG tube output from bilious to more clear/frothy character, and hunger. The NG tube will be taken off of suction and clamped. The NG tube is then reconnected to suction at the end of the four hour clamp trial and removed if less 125 mL drains or kept in place if greater than 125 mL drains. The same initial criteria are used again to determine if a clamp trial will be performed after 24 hours.

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Necessity of replacement of NG tube

    This measure looks at if the NG tube is replaced in either arm of the study after removal.

    Time frame: Through study completion, an average of 1 year

Secondary outcomes

  1. Pulmonary complications

    This outcome looks at any episodes of aspiration pneumonia, pneumonitis, or pneumothorax.

    Time frame: Through study completion, an average of 1 year

  2. Days until discharge

    This outcome will look at the number of days until discharge for all patients in each arm.

    Time frame: Through study completion, an average of 1 year

  3. Emesis episodes after NG tube removal

    This outcome is measured as the number of patients who had an episode of emesis after NG tube removal prior to discharge.

    Time frame: Through study completion, an average of 1 year

  4. Days until general diet reached

    This outcome is measured by looking at how many days it takes from the time of ileus or SBO diagnosis to reach a general diet.

    Time frame: Through study completion, an average of 1 year

07

Study locations

1 site
  • OSF Saint Francis Medical Center
    Peoria, Illinois 61603, United States
    • Robin Alley, MD · Contact · ralley@peoriasurgical.com · 847-275-6187
    • Eleni Stroumpi, MD · Contact · estrou2@uic.edu · 309-655
    • Robin Alley, MD · Principal investigator
    • Harley Moit, MD · Sub investigator
    • Jennifer Rehbein, MD · Sub investigator
08

References and documents

Publications

  • Bhimanagouda V. G., Eshwar B. K., Hanumaraddi L. G., Mohammedgouse A. K. Early removal versus conventional removal of nasogastric tube after abdominal surgery: a prospective randomized controlled study. International Surgery Journal 4(1):220-232, 2017.
  • Mamun K, Lim J. Role of nasogastric tube in preventing aspiration pneumonia in patients with dysphagia. Singapore Med J. 2005 Nov;46(11):627-31. PubMed 16228094 ↗
  • Mitchell CK, Smoger SH, Pfeifer MP, Vogel RL, Pandit MK, Donnelly PJ, Garrison RN, Rothschild MA. Multivariate analysis of factors associated with postoperative pulmonary complications following general elective surgery. Arch Surg. 1998 Feb;133(2):194-8. doi: 10.1001/archsurg.133.2.194. PubMed 9484734 ↗
  • Ibanez J, Penafiel A, Raurich JM, Marse P, Jorda R, Mata F. Gastroesophageal reflux in intubated patients receiving enteral nutrition: effect of supine and semirecumbent positions. JPEN J Parenter Enteral Nutr. 1992 Sep-Oct;16(5):419-22. doi: 10.1177/0148607192016005419. PubMed 1433774 ↗
  • McAlister FA, Bertsch K, Man J, Bradley J, Jacka M. Incidence of and risk factors for pulmonary complications after nonthoracic surgery. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2005 Mar 1;171(5):514-7. doi: 10.1164/rccm.200408-1069OC. Epub 2004 Nov 24. PubMed 15563632 ↗
  • Ferrer M, Bauer TT, Torres A, Hernandez C, Piera C. Effect of nasogastric tube size on gastroesophageal reflux and microaspiration in intubated patients. Ann Intern Med. 1999 Jun 15;130(12):991-4. doi: 10.7326/0003-4819-130-12-199906150-00007. PubMed 10383370 ↗
  • Izu BS, Monson B, Little AG, Termuhlen PM. Surgical practice: evidence or anecdote. J Surg Educ. 2009 Sep-Oct;66(5):281-4. doi: 10.1016/j.jsurg.2009.07.010. PubMed 20005501 ↗
  • Gero D, Gie O, Hubner M, Demartines N, Hahnloser D. Postoperative ileus: in search of an international consensus on definition, diagnosis, and treatment. Langenbecks Arch Surg. 2017 Feb;402(1):149-158. doi: 10.1007/s00423-016-1485-1. Epub 2016 Aug 3. PubMed 27488952 ↗
  • Fonseca AL, Schuster KM, Maung AA, Kaplan LJ, Davis KA. Routine nasogastric decompression in small bowel obstruction: is it really necessary? Am Surg. 2013 Apr;79(4):422-8. PubMed 23574854 ↗
  • Gomes CA Jr, Lustosa SA, Matos D, Andriolo RB, Waisberg DR, Waisberg J. Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy versus nasogastric tube feeding for adults with swallowing disturbances. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2012 Mar 14;(3):CD008096. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD008096.pub3. PubMed 22419328 ↗

Related links

Individual participant data

Plan to share: No

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Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Sep 30, 2019, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
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Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT04001985
Lead sponsor
University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria
Collaborators
OSF Healthcare System
Responsible party
Robin Alley (Robin Alley MD, FACS Assistant Professor of Clinical Surgery, Assistant Program Director, University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria) — Principal investigator
First posted
Jun 28, 2019
Start date
Oct 15, 2019 (estimated)
Primary completion
Jul 20, 2020 (estimated)
Completion
Sep 20, 2020 (estimated)
Last update
Sep 30, 2019

Study contacts

Robin Alley, MD
Contact
ralley@peoriasurgical.com
8472756187
Harley Moit, MD
Contact
harley_moit@yahoo.com
5732336702
Robin Alley, MD
principal investigator · University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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