Skip to main content

Inability to Remove a Nasogastric Tube

  • Chapter
Clinical Anesthesia
  • 1615 Accesses

A 4-wk-old, American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status 1 boy is scheduled for a pyloromyotomy. Before anesthesia, his nasogastric tube (NG) is removed. The anesthesia induction and maintenance is uneventful. A new NG is inserted easily during surgery (Argyle feeding tube, size Ch 8, external diameter 2.7mm × 107cm; Sherwood Medical, St. Louis, MO). Its correct position is verified by air insufflations and slight dilation of the stomach. The patient is taken to the pediatric intensive care unit for recovery. Several hours later, the nurse attempts to manipulate the NG because it seems to be occluded. While she is attempting to move the NG, she is surprised to see a loop of the NG suddenly appear in the mouth. She pushes the NG in again but after that she cannot move the NG up or down. You are called and confirm that the NG is stuck. What will you do?

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 59.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Michel Ives, Veyckemans F, Van Boven M. Unusual Complication of a nasogastric tube insertion. Anesth Analg 1997;84:471.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Hefner CD, Wylie JH, Brush BF. Complications of gastrointestinal intubation. Arch Surg 1961;83:163-76.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Dees G. Difficult nasogastric tube insertions. Emerg Med Clin N Am 1989;7:177-182.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Patow CA, Pruet CW, Fetter TW, Rosenberg SA. Nasogastric tube perforation of the nasopharynx. South Med J 1985;78:1362-1365.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Lind LJ, Wallace DH. Submucosal passage of a nasogastric tube complicating attempted intubation during anesthesia. Anesthesiology 1978;49:145-147.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Dorsey M, Schwinder L, Benemof JL. Unintentional endotracheal extubation by orogastric tube removal. Anesth Rev 1988;15:30-33.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Pousman RM, Koch SM. Endotracheal tube obstruction after orogastric tube placement. Anesthesiology 1997;87:1247-1248.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Au-Truong X, Lopez G, Joseph NJ, Ramez Salem M. A case of a nasogastric tube knotting around a tracheal tube: detection and management. Anesth Analg 1999;89:1583-1584.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2008 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

(2008). Inability to Remove a Nasogastric Tube. In: Clinical Anesthesia. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-72525-3_18

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-72525-3_18

  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-0-387-72519-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-0-387-72525-3

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics