Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Pneumothorax from misplaced feeding tubes in two dogs
By Gladden, Juliet·Published in Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association·2013·Critical Care Service·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Iatrogenic pneumothorax associated with inadvertent intrapleural NGT misplacement in two dogs.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
Two dogs developed serious breathing problems after a nasogastric tube (NGT) was accidentally placed in the wrong spot, leading to air leaking into the chest cavity (a condition called pneumothorax). This can happen during what is usually a simple procedure, and while it’s rare, it can be life-threatening. Both dogs were treated successfully with medical management, but one of them experienced more severe complications. Thankfully, both dogs recovered after their treatment.
People also search for: dog breathing problems after tube placement · nasogastric tube complications in dogs · dog pneumothorax treatment
Abstract
This case report presents two cases of inadvertent intrapleural nasogastric tube (NGT) misplacement with consequent creation of a bronchopleural fistula and the development of an iatrogenic pneumothorax in dogs. Due to the simplicity and relative ease of NGT placement and the lack of reported life-threatening complications in the veterinary literature, the serious risks associated with this procedure are often overlooked. Although pulmonary complications with NGT misplacement have been previously reported in the human literature, serious and potentially fatal complications have not been currently described in veterinary patients. Both of the cases described herein were medically managed with successful outcomes; however, one case was associated with significant morbidity.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24051254/