Aspirate (one for squad maybe)?

[ilovemarkb]

I'm confused by the medical term "aspirate". Before putting feed down a NG tube the patient has to be aspirated to determine the tube is in the correct place. But how do nurses get fluid (from stomach) to come back up the NG tube? i've always thought "aspirate" means to choke. Thanks

[ilovemarkb]

whoops SQAD

[Sqad]

Asphyxia is to choke.

Aspirate is the contents of the thing that is being aspirated ...chest, knee, stomach..........and so on.

[ilovemarkb]

oh i see. do you know how the fluid from stomach is sucked back up?

[Sqad]

Asphyxiate is to choke (verb)
Asphyxia is the noun

[Sqad]

Yes.

[ilovemarkb]

please would you be so kind to tell me how they get the fluid up? sorry for being a pain

[evil__sheep]

a syringe is fixed to the end of the tube and the aspirated is aspirated!

[evil__sheep]

sucked up by the syringe

[Sqad]

LOL

Well, they put a large syringe at the end of the tube that is sticking out of the nose and pull the plunger, thus sucking up any stomach contents present.

[Sqad]

evil....sorry cross posted.

[evil__sheep]

i prefer to be called sheep but evil will do :)

[ilovemarkb]

thanks xx

[anneasquith]

sheep :)

[Lborobrewer]

If a person is unable to swallow properly and some of the fluid is inhaled then they may be said to have aspirated and if they develop a pneumonia subsequently then this will probably be referred to as an aspiration pneumonia. Someone who is very intoxicated may vomit and aspirate.

[ilovemarkb]

so thats why i thought aspirate meant choke. thanks that clears things up for me!!