Question:
What is an

to have one after surgery?? Is it uncomfortable and how long before it is removed?    — Donna H. (posted on July 23, 2000)

July 23, 2000
A naso-gastric tube is not used for all by-pass surgeries. You need to check with your surgeon. The tube is inserted thru the nose and goes down to the stomach and is often connected to low suction.
   — Julia D.

July 23, 2000
They insert it while you are out, so you feel no pain. It is not painful in place, but can be sort of annoying in your throat. It looks far more gross than it feels! And yes, it is common for any surgeries dealing with the stomach. Ours are in for 24 hours following regular bypass, 48 hours following revision. It clearly shows what's happening in the stomach without any further testing. Sort of like a "window to the stomach". With the low suction, it is removing any left over blood or surgical debris (tiny pieces of tissue, etc). If the contents were to change, your surgeon would know immediately what to do. But for me, I associate the presence of the NG tube with the absence of nausea and that made it MUCH easier to live with!
   — vitalady

July 23, 2000
Nasal gastric tube goes up your nose n down your throat. I think most people have it in for surgery but sometimes it is taken out before you wake up. I had mine in for two days. It can be uncomfortable but not painful.
   — snicklefritz

July 24, 2000
Hi, An NG tube is a nasogastric tube that is inserted in your nose and threaded into your stomach. This is done while you are in surgery and is routine for WLS. They are usually only in for 24 hours. They are uncomfortable but not unbearable. Hope this helps!
   — Laura P.

July 24, 2000
The nasal tube drains the gunk from your stomach right after surgery. My surgeon explained that he prefers the ng tube to other options, because other options require an additional incision, therefore an additional chance for infection. It doesn't really hurt, though mine was in for 72 hours, so I had a lot of time to get used to it. The only discomfort was when they fed the tube through the CPap mask each night.
   — Kasey K.