Airway injury by feeding tubes. Problem solved?

Abstract

Background: enteral nutrition through nasogastric tubes is the preferred technique for individuals who temporarily can’t receive oral feeding. Occasionally the accidental introduction of the probe into the airway (AIA) with risk of serious injury (hematoma, pneumothorax, nutrotórax) occurs. These are due to “blindˮ placing of the probes despite being described secure placement techniques (fluoroscopy, endoscopy, colorimetry, etc.).
Objective: to analyze the mechanisms of injuries and causes of the persistence of this problem theoretically solved.
Materials and methods: databases “Medlineˮ, “EMBASEˮ and “Lilacsˮ; computer search engine “Googleˮ.
Results: 112 cases of AIA without complications, 38 pneumothorax, one pneumonia, and 4 instillations of nutrition solution in the airway.
Conclusions: AIA injuries are still a serious problem so secure placement rules of feeding tubes should be taken. The issue involves various specialties (nutrition, intensive care, radiology, thoracic surgery); this is what requires the dissemination of the standards to the entire medical community.