Past surgical history Difficulty passing nasogastric tube 2024-02-11T09:36:11Z Difficulty inserting a nasogastric tube (NGT), a flexible plastic tube that is placed through the nose and esophagus into the stomach and used to administer drugs or for feeding. There are certain circumstances that may make NGT insertion difficult. They are esophageal narrowing, comatose or intubated patients, and patients who have sustained severe facial or skull injuries.