NASOGASTRIC/NASOINTESTINAL ENTERAL FEEDING TUBE AND METHOD FOR AVOIDING TRACHEOBRONCHIAL MISPLACEMENT

A feeding tube assembly for nasogastric and nasointestinal enteral feeding with a pH indicator carried by a stiffener used for inserting the feeding tube into a patient. After insertion of the end of feeding tube assembly into the patient but before the stiffener is withdrawn from the tube, the pH indicator is in communication with body fluids which ooze into the lumen of the tube through perforations provided along the distal end thereof. Misplacement of the end of the tube in the patient's tracheobronchial tree is ruled out by noting that the pH indicator has changed color indicating that it has contacted stomach acid.