The nasogastric tube is stuck - and causes coughing and dyspnoea: A rare complication.

Jens Walldorf, Patrick Michl, Sebastian Krug

Journal: Intensive & critical care nursing 2020;57():102786

PMID: 31879227

Full Text on Elsevier Science View on PubMed

Abstract

For critically ill patients, it is very important that enteral nutrition is established as early as possible. Nasogastric tubes are commonly used for transient enteral nutrition and are generally considered safe to use and handle. However, in unconscious patients special care is needed to detect - possibly life threatening - complications. Here we report the case of a nasogastric tube, which inadvertently looped around the epiglottis. The symptoms and treatment of this rare complication are described and possible measures to prevent this situation are discussed.

Address: Department of Internal Medicine I, Martin-Luther-University of Halle-Wittenberg, Ernst-Grube-Straße 40, 06120 Halle, Germany. Electronic address: [email protected].; Department of Internal Medicine I, Martin-Luther-University of Halle-Wittenberg, Ernst-Grube-Straße 40, 06120 Halle, Germany.

DOI: 10.1016/j.iccn.2019.102786

Link outs

Free resources

Medical:

https://medlineplus.gov/breathingproblems.html

Subscription / membership required

Full Text Sources:

MeSH Terms: Aged, Cough, Dyspnea, Enteral Nutrition, Humans, Intubation, Gastrointestinal, Male