What is the radiographic appearance and ideal positioning of a nasogastric tube (NGT) or orogastric tube (OGT)?
An NGT or OGT usually appears as a faintly radiopaque tube with a thin, densely radiopaque line along the entire length of the tube. Unlike an ETT, the thin, densely radiopaque line is interrupted near the distal tip of the NGT/OGT, representing a distal side hole. The tube should course inferiorly along the midline of the chest, with its tip located at least 10 cm within the stomach so that the distal side hole is situated in the stomach rather than in the esophagus.
