Portal de Periódicos da CAPES

Thoracic complications of nasogastric tube: review of safe practice

2005; Oxford University Press; Volume: 4; Issue: 5 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1510/icvts.2005.109488

1569-9293

Jain Bhaskara Pillai,

Ethics and Legal Issues in Pediatric Healthcare

Insertion of a nasogastric tube, though a common clinical procedure, can produce unexpected complications. We sought to analyse the procedure, and explore means to improve its safety.We present a case with a thoracic complication. We review the English literature for the range of complications, and collate all available clinical tests used to confirm enteric placement.We discuss the short-comings of the usual clinical tests and emphasise the more recent, but less mainstream, procedures that introduce more objectivity to the enteric tube placement.We provide summary points to guide the clinician in everyday practice.