Iatrogenic perforation of the esophagus by a nasogastric tube

Methods and Complications of Nasoenteral Intubation

“…It is evident that trauma can occur during placement of nasoenteral tubes anywhere along the track from the nares to the esophagus or tracheobronchial tree and beyond. Blind passage of nasoenteral tubes has resulted in many serious complications, including the creation of nasopharyngeal submucosal passages 44 ; intracranial placement in patients with facial fractures, facial trauma, 45 ‐ 57 and recent facial surgery 58 ; esophageal perforation 59 ‐ 63 ; bronchopulmonary intubation 64 , 65 ; pneumothorax 66 ‐ 77 ; hydrothorax 78 , 79 ; empyema 79 ; and pneumonia 80 . In addition, nasogastric tube placement is hemodynamically stimulating, 35 and hypertensive responses to nasogastric tube insertion may occur 81 .…”

A Forgotten Nasogastric Tube

“…1 However, the NGT may cause respiratory distress, laryngeal trauma, pneumothorax and esophageal perforation. [1][2][3] It is known that NGT may snap and break off as occurred in this case when it was originally removed. 7 The NGT may also become selfknotted and twisted causing problems with both insertion and removal.…”

“…Serious complications include respiratory distress, laryngeal trauma, pneumothorax and esophageal perforation. [1][2][3] There are many reported cases of unusual foreign bodies (FB) removed from the nose 4 but no previous documentation of a NGT. In this report, we discuss a patient who presented to the emergency department due to a head injury and imaging revealed the coincidental finding of a NGT in the nose and nasopharynx.…”

A case report of esophageal perforation: Complication of nasogastric tube placement

“…Kuo et al described an esophageal perforation in a 47-year-old tracheostomized male patient with long-term NGT placement [12]. Tiller et al reported that early recognition of an esophageal perforation after insertion of an NGT is the best prognostic indicator of outcome [13]. It is recommended that perioperative prophylactic NGT insertion be performed either by an anesthesiologist or under the supervision of an anesthesiologist to prevent unwanted complications such as perforation [14].…”