This is a tube passed from a nostril through the nasal pharynx, back of the oral pharynx, and esophagus into the stomach. Its functions include: decompressing the stomach after some type of surgery of the gastrointestinal tract which predisposes to gastric distention or vomiting. decompressing the stomach of patients emptying the stomach of patients who are semicomatose or comatose and suspected to have a full stomach emptying stomach contents in the case of esophageal perforations emptying stomach contents in cases of bowel obstructions serving as a conduit for the administration of drugs and nutrition for some patients