Year 2020 / Volume 112 / Number 2
Letter
Misplacement of a nasogastric feeding tube: a case report

159

DOI: 10.17235/reed.2020.6512/2019

Flávio Pereira, Richard Azevedo, José Tristan,

Abstract
Nasogastric tube (NGT) insertion is widely used for enteral feeding. After blind insertion of a NGT, confirmation of correct placement prior to feeding using reliable methods is mandatory. NGT misplacement in the respiratory tract can lead to serious complications. We report a case of a patient with dysphagia and malnutrition that needed enteral feeding as nutritional support. A NGT was blindly inserted, and its gastric position was confirmed through air insufflation and epigastric auscultation. Enteral feeding was initiated. Few hours later, the patient presented with respiratory distress. An urgent thoracic computed tomography was requested due to suspiction of pulmonary embolism, which revealed the NGT in the respiratory tree and a pneumonia in the lower lobe of the right lung. The NGT was removed, a new insertion was attempted and its gastric position was confirmed by radiography. Enteral feeding was initiated uneventfully. This case highlights the need for use of reliable methods of confirming tube location in order to avoid complications of misplacement.
Share Button
New comment
Comments
No comments for this article
References
1. Sparks DA, Chase DM, Coughlin LM, Perry E. Pulmonary complications of 9931 narrow-bore nasoenteric tubes during blind placement: A critical review. J Parenter Enter Nutr. 2011;35(5):625-629.
2. AACN Practice Alert. AACN Practice Alert Initial and Ongoing Verification of Feeding Tube Placement in Adults. Crit Care Nurse. 2016;36(2):8-14. doi:dx.doi.org/10.4037/ccn2016141
3. Metheny N, McSweeney M. Effectiveness of the auscultatory method in predicting feeding tube location. Nurs Res. 1990;39(5):262-267.
4. Gilbertson HR, Rogers EJ, Ukoumunne OC. Determination of a practical pH cutoff level for reliable confirmation of nasogastric tube placement. J Parenter Enter Nutr. 2011;35(4):540-544.
5. Tsujimoto H, Tsujimoto Y, Nakata Y, Akazawa M, Kataoka Y. Ultrasonography for confirmation of gastric tube placement. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2017;2017(4). doi:10.1002/14651858.CD012083.pub2
Citation tools
Pereira F, Azevedo R, Tristan J. Misplacement of a nasogastric feeding tube: a case report. 6512/2019


Download to a citation manager

Download the citation for this article by clicking on one of the following citation managers:

Metrics
This article has received 1353 visits.
This article has been downloaded 386 times.

Statistics from Dimensions


Statistics from Plum Analytics

Publication history

Received: 17/07/2019

Accepted: 03/08/2019

Online First: 27/01/2020

Published: 07/02/2020

Article Online First time: 194 days

Article editing time: 205 days


Share
This article has been rated by 1 readers.
Reader rating:
Valora este artículo:




Asociación Española de Ecografía Digestiva Sociedad Española de Endoscopia Digestiva Sociedad Española de Patología Digestiva
The Spanish Journal of Gastroenterology is the official organ of the Sociedad Española de Patología Digestiva, the Sociedad Española de Endoscopia Digestiva and the Asociación Española de Ecografía Digestiva
Cookie policy Privacy Policy Legal Notice © Copyright 2023 y Creative Commons. The Spanish Journal of Gastroenterology