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Nasopulmonary Intubation with Feeding Tubes: Case Reports and Review of the Literature
Author(s) -
Lipman Timothy O.,
Kessler Thomas,
Arabian Aram
Publication year - 1985
Publication title -
journal of parenteral and enteral nutrition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.935
H-Index - 98
eISSN - 1941-2444
pISSN - 0148-6071
DOI - 10.1177/0148607185009005618
Subject(s) - medicine , complication , intubation , pneumothorax , auscultation , hydrothorax , surgery , aspiration pneumonia , feeding tube , parenteral nutrition , pneumonia , pulmonary aspiration , enteral administration , anesthesia , radiology , ascites
Pulmonary aspiration of regurgitated feeding material is a recognized complication of enteral nutrition by feeding tube. Nasopulmonary intubation with feeding tubes has been reported infrequently. We present two patients with such complications. In one, nasopulmonary intubation resulted in a pneumothorax. In the other unrecognized misplacement resulted in pneumonia and hydrothorax. Similar cases in the literature are discussed. Common features of this complication are: (1) patients who are obtunded, debilitated, or without gag reflex; (2) previous successful insertion of a tube; (3) successful passage past endotracheal tubes and tracheostomies; and (4) positive auscultation of insufflated air over the left upper quadrant. Complete prevention of this complication probably is not possible, but health care personnel should be aware of this potential problem in the patient at risk. ( Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition 9 :618–620, 1985)