NGT Case Study Paper

Intracranial malpositioning of nasogastric tube (NGT) is rare but well documented complication in patients with skull base fracture. Very few non trauma cases have been described in literature with this complication. We are reporting inadvertent intracranial positioning of NGT in an elderly lady who was admitted with medical illness. Her Computed tomography (CT) brain scan showed intracranial placement of NGT. The tube was removed but the patient subsequently expired after 48 hours of NGT insertion. Our purpose to present this rare case is to create the awareness about this potential and dreaded complication associated with nasogastric intubation and lessons to be learned from this case are discussed. Insertion of NGT is a routine and well-established
procedure in many clinical situations. It is one of the most common procedures undertaken worldwide in obtunded or uncooperative patients. This procedure although simple, but is not risk free