Prolonged nasogastric suction results in loss of gastrointestinal secretions primarily from which portion of the GI tract?

• A. Small intestine
• B. Stomach
• C. Large intestine
• D. Esophagus

Answer: (B)

Prolonged nasogastric suction removes gastric contents, so the secretions being lost come mainly from the stomach. The stomach’s glands produce acid (HCl), pepsinogen, mucus, and intrinsic factor; these are what a suction tube in the stomach would drain most of. Secretions from the small or large intestine, or from the esophagus, aren’t being drained in the same way by a gastric tube, so they’re not the primary source of the loss. This loss of gastric juice can have metabolic consequences, such as hypochloremic metabolic alkalosis, if it occurs long enough.