Nasogastric tube syndrome:A Meta-summary of case reports

BACKGROUND Since its description in 1790 by Hunter,the nasogastric tube(NGT)is commonly used in any healthcare setting for alleviating gastrointestinal symptoms or enteral feeding.However,the risks associated with its placement are often underes-timated.Upper airway obstruction with a NGT is an uncommon but potentially life-threatening complication.NGT syndrome is characterized by the presence of an NGT,throat pain and vocal cord(VC)paralysis,usually bilateral.It is poten-tially life–threatening,and early diagnosis is the key to the prevention of fatal upper airway obstruction.However,fewer cases may have been reported than might have occurred,primarily due to the clinicians'unawareness.The lack of specific signs and symptoms and the inability to prove temporal relation with NGT insertion has made diagnosing the syndrome quite challenging.AIM To review and collate the data from the published case reports and case series to understand the possible risk factors,early warning signs and symptoms for timely detection to prevent the manifestation of the complete syndrome with life-threatening airway obstruction.METHODS We conducted a systematic search for this meta-summary from the database of PubMed,EMBASE,Reference Citation Analysis(https://www.referencecitation-analysis.com/)and Google scholar,from all the past studies till August 2023.The search terms included major MESH terms"Nasogastric tube","Intubation,Gastrointestinal","Vocal Cord Paralysis",and“Syndrome”.All the case reports and case series were evaluated,and the data were extracted for patient demographics,clinical symptomatology,diagnostic and therapeutic interventions,clinical course and outcomes.A datasheet for evaluation was further prepared.RESULTS Twenty-seven cases,from five case series and 13 case reports,of NGT syndrome were retrieved from our search.There was male predominance(17,62.96%),and age at presentation ranged from 28 to 86 years.Ten patients had diabetes mellitus(37.04%),and nine were hypertensive(33.33%).Only three(11.11%)patients were reported to be immunocompromised.The median time for developing symptoms after NGT insertion was 14.5 d(interquartile range 6.25-33.75 d).The most commonly reported reason for NGT insertion was acute stroke(10,37.01%)and the most commonly reported symptoms were stridor or wheezing 17(62.96%).In 77.78%of cases,bilateral VC were affected.The only treatment instituted in most patients(77.78%)was removing the NG tube.Most patients(62.96%)required tracheostomy for airway protection.But 8 of the 23 survivors recovered within five weeks and could be decannulated.Three patients were reported to have died.CONCLUSION NGT syndrome is an uncommon clinical complication of a very common clinical procedure.However,an under-reporting is possible because of misdiagnosis or lack of awareness among clinicians.Patients in early stages and with mild symptoms may be missed.Further,high variability in the presentation timing after NGT insertion makes diagnosis challenging.Early diagnosis and prompt removal of NGT may suffice in most patients,but a significant proportion of patients presenting with respiratory compromise may require tracheostomy for airway protection.

Exfoliative esophageal bleeding caused by blind placement of a nasogastric tube:Two cases and a literature review

Transnasal intubation is a clinical operation usually performed blindly at the bedside.Mild adverse events,such as epistaxis and tube misplacement,are relatively common.Esophageal bleeding or perforation and other serious adverse events are rare.In the present study,two cases of severe diffuse esophageal bleeding caused by the blind placement of a nasogastric tube are described.These cases were successfully treated using a covered metal stent or Sengstaken-Blakemore tube.A review of the literature regarding the possible causes of such adverse events and the potential endoscopic treatments for severe hemorrhage are discussed.

Nasogastric tube syndrome induced by an indwelling long intestinal tube

The nasogastric tube(NGT) has become a frequently used device to alleviate gastrointestinal symptoms. Nasogastric tube syndrome(NTS) is an uncommon but potentially life-threatening complication of an indwelling NGT. NTS is characterized by acute upper airway obstruction due to bilateral vocal cord paralysis. We report a case of a 76-year-old man with NTS, induced by an indwelling long intestinal tube. He was admitted to our hospital for treatment of sigmoid colon cancer. He underwent sigmoidectomy to release a bowel obstruction, and had a long intestinal tube inserted to decompress the intestinal tract. He presented acute dyspnea following prolonged intestinal intubation, and bronchoscopy showed bilateral vocal cord paralysis. The NGT was removed immediately, and tracheotomy was performed. The patient was finally discharged in a fully recovered state. NTS be considered in patients complaining of acute upper airway obstruction, not only with a NGT inserted but also with a long intestinal tube.

Comparison of different methods of nasogastric tube insertion in anesthetized and intubated patients: A meta-analysis

BACKGROUND Several techniques of nasogastric tube(NGT)insertion have been described in the literature with different success rates.AIM To systematically search the literature and conduct a meta-analysis comparing the success rates,insertion time and complications associated with different techniques of NGT insertion in anesthetized and intubated patients.METHODS An electronic search of the PubMed,Scopus,CENTRAL(Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials),and Google Scholar databases were performed up to October 31,2019.We included 17 randomized controlled trials with 2500 participants in the meta-analysis.RESULTS As compared to the conventional method,successful insertion of the NGT on first attempt was higher with modified techniques such as the reverse Sellick’s maneuver[relative risk(RR)1.94;95%confidence interval(CI):1.62-2.31],use of a frozen NGT(RR 1.55;95%CI:1.13-2.13),inserting the NGT with neck flexion and lateral neck pressure(RR 1.64;95%CI:1.10-2.45),endotracheal tube-assisted(RR 1.88;95%CI:1.52-2.32)and video-assisted placements(RR 1.60;95%CI:1.31-1.95).All the modified techniques also led to comparatively higher insertion success rates than the conventional technique.CONCLUSION The use of modified techniques of NGT insertion such as the reverse Sellick’s maneuver,neck flexion with lateral neck pressure,frozen NGT,endotracheal tube-guided or video-assisted methods result in a significantly better chance of successful tube insertion at first attempt as compared to the conventional technique.All modified techniques also significantly improve the overall chance of successful NGT placement as compared to the conventional method.

Bedside ultrasonic localization of the nasogastric tube in a patient with severe COVID-19:A case report

BACKGROUND The indwelling nasogastric tube is commonly used for supplying enteral nutrition to patients who are unable to feed themselves,and accurate positioning is essential in the indwelling nasogastric tube in the body of the aforementioned patients.In clinical practice,abdominal radiography,auscultation,and clinical determination of the pH of the gastric juice are routinely used by medical personnel to determine the position of the tube;however,those treatments have proved limitations in specific cases.There are few case reports on the precise positioning of the nasogastric tube in patients with coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19),for whom a supply of necessary nutrition support is significant throughout the process of treatment.CASE SUMMARY A 79-year-old patient,diagnosed with COVID-19 at the stage of combined syndromes with severe bacterial lung infection,respiratory failure,multiple comorbidities,and a poor nutritional status,was presented to us and required an indwelling nasogastric tube for enteral nutrition support.After pre-treatment assessments including observation of the patient’s nasal feeding status and examination of the nasal septal deviation,inflammation,obstruction,nasal leakage of cerebrospinal fluid,and other disorders that might render intubation inappropriate,we measured and marked the length of the nasogastric tube to be placed and delivered the tube to the intended length in the standard manner.Then further scrutiny was conducted to ensure that the tube was not coiled in the mouth,and gentle movements were made to avoid damage to the esophageal mucosa.However,back draw of the gastric juice using an empty needle failed,and the stethoscope could not be used for auscultation due to the specific condition presented by the internal organs of the patient,and the end of the tube was placed in saline with no bubbles spilling out.Therefore,it was not possible to determine whether the nasogastric tube was placed exactly in the stomach and no nutrient infusion was performed for the time being.Subsequently,the ultrasound probe was utilized to view the condition of the patient’s stomach,where the nasogastric tube was found to be translucent and running parallel to the esophagus shaped as“=”.The pre-conditions were achieved and 100 mL nutritional fluid was fed to the patient,who did not experience any discomfort throughout the procedure.His vital signs were stable with no adverse effects.CONCLUSION We achieved successfully used ultrasound to position the nasogastric tube in a 79-year-old patient with COVID-19.The repeatable ultrasound application does not involve radiation and causes less disturbance in the neck,making it advantageous for rapid positioning of the nasogastric tube and worthy of clinical promotion and application.

Passage of nasogastric tube through tracheo-esophageal fistula into stomach: A rare event

Esophageal atresia with tracheo-oesophageal fistula(TEF) occurs in 1 in 3500 live births. Anorectal malformation is found to be associated with 14% of TEF. Esophageal atresia with TEF is a congenital anomaly which classically presents as excessive frothing from the mouth and respiratory distress. Rarely gastric position of the feeding tube in a case of TEF can be obtained delaying the diagnosis of TEF. We had an uncommon situation where a nasogastric tube reached the stomach through the trachea and tracheo-esophageal fistula, leading to misdiagnosis in a case of esophageal atresia with tracheoesophageal fistula. By using a stiff rubber catheter instead of a soft feeding tube for the diagnosis of esophageal atresia and TEF, such situation can be avoided.

Double aortic arch and nasogastric tubes: A fatal combination

Double aortic arch is a common form of complete vascular ring that encircles both the trachea and the esophagus, and presents with various respiratory and esophageal symptoms, usually in the pediatric population. We present a case of double aortic arch in an adult patient that manifested as massive upper gastrointestinal bleeding after prolonged nasogastric intubation.

Nasogastric tube as protection for recurrent oesophageal stricture:A case report

This report presents the case of an 8.5-year-old boy with Down syndrome after experiencing extensive caustic injury to the oesophagus and stomach resulting from the accidental ingestion of concentrated sulphuric acid.The patient had undergone 32 unsuccessful endoscopic oesophageal stricture dilatations and stenting procedures performed over a period of 15 mo following the accident.Surgical reconstruction of the oesophagus was not possible due to previous gastric and cardiac surgeries for congenital conditions.Before referring the patient for salivary fistula surgery,the patient received a nasogastric tube with perforations located above the upper margin of the oesophageal stenosis for the passage of saliva and fluid.The tube was well tolerated and improved swallowing;however the backflow of gastric contents caused recurrent infections of the respiratory tract.To overcome these problems,we developed a double lumen,varying diameter,perforated tube for protection of the oesophageal closure.This nasogastric tube was found to be safe and decreased the need for hospitalization and further endoscopic procedures.This newly developed tube can thus be considered as a treatment option for patients with recurrent oesophageal stenosis and contraindications for surgical oesophageal reconstruction.

A novel technique to insert nasogastric tube for the anesthetized patients during cervical esophageal reconstruction

We are describing a novel technique to insert nasogastric tube （NGT） in the anesthetized patients dur- ing cervical esophageal reconstruction. Methods： Forty patients with mid and upper esophageal tumor enrolled into this study were randomly allocated into two groups （the control group, group C and the novel method group, group N）. All the patients were applied mechanical anastomosis to finish the cervical esophageal reconstruction. The procedure of NGT insertion for group C use the conventional method; well, the group N use the novel technique. Results： All the patients in group N had been finished the NGT insertion in the first attempt, and the total time for insertion was （5.05 ＋ 1.15） mins; on the contrary, for the group C, duration of insertion （min） was （24.45 ± 5.23） mins, and the successful rate of NGT insertion in the first attempt was 40% （P〈 0.05）; no one in group N had coiling/kinking, and 6/20 （30%） in group C had it （P= 0.020）. The complication rate of bleeding between the two group had no significant difference. Conclusion： For the patient with mid and upper esophageal tumor who need cervical esophageal reconstruction, this novel method can save the NGT insertion time, and make it easier with higher successful rate.

A Review of Location Methods of Nasogastric Tube in Critically Ill Patients

Nasogastric tube is widely used in intensive care units. The complications of misplacement are rare but very dangerous for critically ill patients. Accurate localization of the position of the tip of nasogastric tube can effectively decrease complications and ensure the safety of critically ill patients. There are various methods that can be used to verify the location of the nasogastric tube such as radiography, PH measurement, electromagnetic navigator and ultrasound. However, there is a lack of general consensus regarding a standard method. In this review, we found that the accuracy of nasogastric tube placement can be greatly improved by visual technology such as X-ray, sonography and electromagnetic navigator. However, visual technology has not been widely used to locate the tip of nasogastric tube in critically ill patients. Best practice guidelines based on the available knowledge and evidence of current methods are necessary to increase the accuracy placement of nasogastric tube. It is envisioned that development of visual technologies will determine a new standard of care for verification of placement of nasogastric tube.

Routine nasogastric tube placement in patients with small esophageal perforation after endoscopic foreign body removal may be unnecessary:a propensity score matching analysis

Background:Nasogastric tube(NGT)placement is part of the post-operative management of upper gastrointestinal perforation,but its routine use in esophageal perforation(EP)caused by foreign bodies remains unclear.The purpose of this research was to investigate the necessity for routine NGT placement in patients with EP after endoscopic foreign body removal.Methods:A total of 323 patients diagnosed with EP caused by foreign bodies at the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University between January 2012 and December 2021 were included in this retrospective study.Patients were divided into the NGT group and the non-NGT group according to whether or not NGT placement was performed.The perforation healing rate,post-operative adverse events,hospital stay,and death rate were analysed using a 1:1 propensity score matching model.Results:Before matching,there were 263 patients in the NGT group and 60 patients in the non-NGT group.There were significant differences in the time to treatment,infection,albumin,and types of endoscopy between the two groups,while the length of hospital stay in the NGT group was significantly longer than that in the non-NGT group.After 1:1 propensity score matching,48 pairs of patients were matched between the two groups.The perforation healing rate,post-operative adverse events,length of hospital stay,and death rate did not show significant differences between the two groups.Conclusions:For patients with small EP caused by foreign bodies,routine NGT placement after endoscopic foreign body removal may be unnecessary.

Advantages of nasogastric tube feeding during neoadjuvant concurrent chemoradiotherapy for esophageal cancer:A retrospective study

ObjectiveTo compare the effects of oral intake and nasogastric tube(NG)feeding on nutritional status,complications and survival during neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy for esophageal squamous-cell carcinoma(ESCC)patients.MethodsA total of 61 ESCC cases treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy from December 2018 to March 2020 were enrolled,including(38 in oral intake group,and 22 in NG feeding group.Disease characteristics and baseline nutritional markers were collected in both groups.Nutritional status,complication and completion rate of chemoradiotherapy in both groups were evaluated.ResultsCompared with the oral intake group,patients in the NG feeding group had a later T stage(P=0.027)and clinical stage(P=0.014).The levels of energy intake(P=0.033),serum prealbumin(P<0.001),albumin(P=0.017)and hemoglobin(P=0.015)before treatment in NG group were significantly lower than those in oral intake group.Furthermore,patient-generated subjective global assessment(PG-SGA)score(P=0.016)and the levels of serum C-reactive protein(P=0.014)of NG feeding group were significantly higher than those of oral intake group.However,at the end of treatment,PG-SGA scores were increased in oral intake group and decreased in NG feeding group.In addition,the NG feeding group had a lower incidence of grade≥2 esophagitis(P=0.037),and higher completion rate of chemotherapy compared with oral intake group(P=0.034).Meanwhile,the proportion of parenteral nutrition(P=0.008)and anti-inflammatory(P=0.022)treatment in NG feeding group was significantly lower than that in oral intake group.Although patients in the NG feeding group had a worse prognosis,there were no statistically significant differences in overall survival(OS)and progression-free survival(PFS)between the two groups(P>0.05).ConclusionsAs a safe and effective enteral nutrition approach to improving nutrition,nasogastric tube feeding could increase treatment completion rate and reduce the incidence of≥grade 2 esophagitis reaction during neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy.

Self‐knotting of distal end of nasogastric tube—Not an uncommon possibility

Importance A nasogastric tube is used commonly to decompress the stomach and provide enteral feeding in surgical and medical practice.Sometimes this safe and innocent‐looking tube may lead to unexpected complications.We focus here on the possibility of spontaneous‘lariat loop’knotting of the nasogastric tube when some resistance is felt on tube retrieval and describe a method of safe tube removal.Case presentation We present a case of self‐knotting of a nasogastric tube that was placed to decompress the stomach during the postoperative period after surgical repair of anorectal malformation in a 4‐month‐old boy.Conclusion Self‐knotting of the distal end of nasogastric tube is an unusual complication with catastrophic sequelae if not addressed properly.If any resistance is felt during nasogastric tube retrieval,self‐knotting of the tube must be suspected.

Early nasogastric enteral nutrition for severe acute pancreatitis: A systematic review

AIM: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of early nasogastric enteral nutrition (NGEN) for patients with severe acute pancreatitis (SAP). METHODS: We searched Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (Issue 2, 2006), Pub-Medline (1966-2006), and references from relevant articles. We included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) only, which reported the mortality of SAP patients at least. Two reviewers assessed the quality of each trial and collected data independently. The Cochrane Collaboration’s RevMan 4.2.9 software was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: Three RCTs were included, involving 131 patients. The baselines of each trial were comparable. Meta-analysis showed no significant differences in mortality rate of SAP patients between nasogastric and conventional routes (RR = 0.76, 95% CI = 0.37 and 1.55, P = 0.45), and in other outcomes, including time of hospital stay (weighted mean difference = -5.87, 95% CI = -20.58 and 8.84, P = 0.43), complication rate of infection (RR = 1.41, 95% CI = 0.62 and 3.23, P = 0.41) or multiple organ defi ciency syndrome (RR = 0.97, 95% CI = 0.27 and 3.47, P = 0.97), rate of admission to ICU (RR = 1.00, 95% CI = 0.48 and 2.09, P = 0.99) or conversion to surgery (RR = 0.66, 95% CI = 0.12 and 3.69, P = 0.64), as well as recurrence of re-feeding pain and adverse events associated with nutrition. CONCLUSION: Early NGEN is a breakthrough in the management of SAP. Based on current studies, early NGEN appears effective and safe. Since the available evidence is poor in quantity, it is hard to make an accurate evaluation of the role of early NGEN in SAP.Before recommendation to clinical practice, further high qualified, large scale, randomized controlled trials are needed.

Effect of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy on gastroesophageal reflux in mechanically-ventilated patients

AIM： To investigate the effect of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy （PEG） on gastroesophageal reflux （GER） in mechanically-ventilated patients. METHODS ： In a prospective, randomized, controlled study 36 patients with recurrent or persistent ventilatorassociated pneumonia （VAP） and GER 〉 6% were divided into PEG group （n=16） or non-PEG group （n = 20）. Another 11 ventilated patients without reflux （GER 〈 3%） served as control group. Esophageal pH-metry was performed by the ＂pull through＂ method at baseline, 2 and 7 d after PEG. Patients were strictly followed up for semi-recumbent position and control of gastric nutrient residue. RESULTS： A significant decrease of median （range） reflux was observed in PEG group from 7.8 （6.2-15.6） at baseline to 2.7 （0-10.4） on d 7 post-gastrostomy （P 〈 0.01）, while the reflux increased from 9 （6.2-22） to 10.8 （6.3-36.6） （P〈 0.01） in non-PEG group. A significant correlation between GER （%） and the stay of nasogastric tube was detected （r= 0.56, P〈 0.01）. CONCLUSION： Gastrostomy when combined with semi- recumbent position and absence of nutrient gastric residue reduces the gastroesophageal reflux in ventilated patients.

Epistaxis in end stage liver disease masquerading as severe upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage

AIM: To describe the prevalence, diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes of end stage liver disease (ESLD) patients with severe epistaxis thought to be severe upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage (UGIH).

Risk factors for postoperative delayed gastric emptying in ovarian cancer treated with cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy

BACKGROUND Cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy(CRSHIPEC)has shown promising results in improving the survival of ovarian cancer patients.Although the safety profiles of CRS-HIPEC exist,more attention should be paid to gastrointestinal complications,as the procedure involves a considerable proportion of bowel resection and anastomosis.AIM To identify the risk factors for delayed gastric emptying in ovarian cancer treated with CRS-HIPEC.METHODS A cross-sectional study was conducted.According to the inclusion and exclusion criteria,we retrospectively analyzed 77 patients admitted between March 2014 and April 2018 with advanced and recurrent ovarian cancer treated with CRSHIPEC in Beijing Shijitan Hospital of Capital Medical University.Risk factors for delayed gastric emptying were analyzed using univariate analysis.All of the statistically significant variables in the univariate analysis were entered into the multivariable logistic regression model to determine factors independently associated with delayed gastric emptying.RESULTS Among the 77 included patients,36.4%(28/77)had delayed gastric emptying after CRS-HIPEC.The median age and body mass index of all patients were 59 years and 22.83 kg/m^(2),respectively.Preoperative chemotherapy was administered in 55 patients(71%).Sixty-two patients(81%)had a history of at least one previous pelvic surgery.The median operation time and intraoperative hemorrhage volume were 630 min and 600 mL,respectively.Omentectomy was performed in 32 cases of primary ovarian cancer and 24 cases of recurrence.The median peritoneal cancer index was 16.The risk factors for delayed gastric emptying from the univariate analysis were body mass index<23 kg/m2(X2=5.059,P=0.025),history of pelvic surgery(X^(2)=4.498,P=0.034),history of chemotherapy(X^(2)=4.334,P=0.037),operation time≥7 h(X2=4.827,P=0.047),and intraoperative hemorrhage≥800 mL(X^(2)=7.112,P=0.008).Multivariable analysis revealed that age≥70 years(HR=7.127;95%CI 1.122-45.264;P=0.037)and intraoperative hemorrhage≥800 mL(HR=3.416;95%CI 1.067-10.939;P=0.039)were independently associated with postoperative delayed gastric emptying after CRS-HIPEC.CONCLUSION Postoperative gastrointestinal management,including prolonged nasogastric intubation,should be promoted for patients over 70 years or those with intraoperative bleeding exceeding 800 mL.

与Overlap引导管配套的对接胃管在食管空肠吻合术中的应用价值

目的探讨作者团队自主研发的与Overlap引导管(OGT管)配套的对接胃管(JNT胃管)在腹腔镜全胃切除OGT-overlap食管空肠吻合术中的应用价值。方法采用描述性病例系列研究方法, 回顾性收集2022年8—10月南方医科大学南方医院普通外科收治的20例行腹腔镜全胃切除、JNT胃管对接引导OGT-overlap(JNT-OGT-overlap)食管空肠吻合胃癌患者的临床病理资料。观察指标包括:(1)手术情况:总手术时间、食管空肠吻合时间、JNT胃管置入完成时间、OGT与JNT胃管对接完成时间、钉砧插入食管一次性成功率、食管黏膜损伤发生率、术中并发症发生率;(2)术后情况:吻合口相关并发症、总并发症及并发症分级、术后早期恢复情况、术后住院天数、围手术期非计划二次手术率、围手术期死亡;(3)随访情况。采用门诊和电话方式进行随访, 了解患者术后吻合口梗阻及反流情况。随访时间截至2022年11月。结果 (1)手术情况:食管空肠吻合时间为15(5.0)min, JNT胃管置入完成时间为14(12)s, OGT与JNT胃管对接完成的时间为55(15)s, 钉砧插入食管一次性成功率为95.0%。既无中转开腹/中转联合开胸, 也无中转其他食管空肠吻合方式。术中无食管假道形成或者钉砧戳破食管等并发症。术中胃镜检查未发现JNT管损伤食管黏膜的情况。(2)术后情况:术后出现并发症4例(20.0%), 3例为Clavien-DindoⅡ级, 1例为Clavien-DindoⅢa级。术后首次进食全流质食物时间为4.0(1.0)d, 首次进食半流质食物时间为6.0(3.0)d, 拔除腹腔引流管时间为7.0(2.0)d, 住院时间为10(2.0)d。无术后吻合口并发症发生。无非计划二次手术、无围手术期死亡病例。(3)随访情况:20例患者均获得随访, 随访时间为术后1个月。随访期间, 20例患者均未发生吻合口狭窄或者非计划再次住院。结论 JNT胃管应用于腹腔镜全胃切除OGT-overlap食管空肠吻合术中安全、可行, 提高手术效率, 但还需前瞻性、大样本量、随机对照研究进一步验证。