The study included 331 intubations in 314 patients. An X-ray was obtained in 301 intubations. A pH measurement was performed in 270 intubations. The average age of the participants was 69 years (range, 18–94) (see Table 1).
3.2. Obtaining an aspirate from the nasogastric tube
In 48.6% (n=161) intubations an aspirate could be obtained immediately. The additional measures used (including the aspiration of air into the tube, side- positioning of the patient and re-aspiration after an hour) increased the success rate by 33.5% leading to an aspirate being obtained in 81.6% (n = 270) of intubations (see Fig. 2).