A 3-week-old infant has surgery for esophageal atresia. What is the immediate postoperative nursing care priority for this infant?

Checking the patency of the nasogastric tube

A nasogastric tube is used after surgery to decompress the stomach and limit tension on the suture line. As another means of limiting pressure on the suture line, oral feedings should not be implemented in the immediate postoperative period when the nasogastric tube is in place. Vomiting indicates obstruction of the nasogastric tube; this is why the initial action should be to check the patency of the tube. It is too soon for signs of infection to occur.

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