Adequacy of different measurement methods in determining nasogastric tube insertion lengths: An observational study.

Background: Distance from the tip of the nose to earlobe to xiphisternum is commonly used to determine the length of nasogastric tube to be inserted. However, it is not evidence-based and frequently leads to improper positioning.

Objectives: This study evaluated four formulae and the distance from the tip of the nose to earlobe to xiphisternum in estimating the internal length of nasogastric tube required for optimal positioning.

External Validation of Hematoma Expansion Scores in Spontaneous Intracerebral Hemorrhage in an Asian Patient Cohort.

Background: Hematoma expansion (HE) occurs in approximately one-third of patients with intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) and is known to be a strong predictor of neurological deterioration as well as poor functional outcome. This study aims to externally validate three risk prediction models of HE (PREDICT, 9-point, and BRAIN scores) in an Asian population.

Methods: A prospective cohort of 123 spontaneous ICH patients admitted to a tertiary hospital (certified stroke center) in Singapore was recruited.