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Underwater‐seal nasogastric tube drainage to relieve gastric distension caused by air swallowing
Author(s) -
Solomon A. W.,
Bramall J. C.,
Ball J.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
anaesthesia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.839
H-Index - 117
eISSN - 1365-2044
pISSN - 0003-2409
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2044.2010.06565.x
Subject(s) - medicine , distension , gastric distension , swallowing , anesthesia , intubation , surgery , mechanical ventilation , lesser sac , sedation , stomach
Summary Air swallowing can occur as a psychogenic phenomenon, because of abnormal anatomy, or during non‐invasive positive pressure ventilation. Gross distension of the stomach with air can have severe consequences for the respiratory and gastrointestinal systems. We report the case of a 62‐year‐old man with severe dynamic hyperinflation due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, who developed respiratory failure requiring intubation a few hours after radical prostatectomy. Following a percutaneous tracheostomy and weaning of sedation on day six, his abdomen began to enlarge progressively. X‐rays revealed massive gastric distension due to air swallowing, which continued despite all efforts to optimise therapy. The use of an underwater seal drainage system on a nasogastric tube improved ventilation and ultimately aided weaning from mechanical support.