Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Outcomes of Isocalothorax Resulting from Nasogastric Tube Misplacement in Two Dogs and One Cat.
- Journal:
- Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association
- Year:
- 2025
- Authors:
- Mo, Savina et al.
- Affiliation:
- From Harvest Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Hospital · China
Plain-English summary
This report discusses three pets—two dogs and one cat—who experienced a serious condition called isocalothorax, which happened because a feeding tube was accidentally placed in their lungs instead of their stomachs. The two dogs required surgery; one of them was able to go home afterward, while the other sadly did not survive. The cat was treated with medication and also managed to recover and go home. This case is notable because it is the first time a cat with this condition has been successfully treated without surgery. Overall, the report emphasizes the risks of misplacing feeding tubes and suggests ways to manage this type of complication.
Abstract
Nasogastric tubes (NGTs) are used in critical care to provide early enteral nutrition to reduce mortality and morbidity. Compared with other feeding tubes, NGTs are inexpensive and easy to place without delaying provision of enteral nutrition. In addition, NGTs are used to monitor gastric motility and reduce the risk of aspiration pneumonia. Despite their versatility, there are complications associated with their use. This report presents three cases of isocalothorax in animals resulting from inadvertent placement of NGTs into the respiratory tract. Two dogs were treated surgically; one survived to discharge and one died. One cat survived to discharge with medical management. Few reports in veterinary literature describe complications of misplaced NGTs. To our knowledge, this is the first case report of successful medical management in a cat with isocalothorax. This report highlights complications of NGT misplacement and offers possible management strategies in cases of isocalothorax.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40304443/