“Nutrothorax” complicating a misplaced nasogastric feeding tube in a severely ill patient

Abstract

Introduction of nasogastric feeding tubes is usually blindly performed and is
generally considered a safe procedure. However, the rate of complications of
a blind insertion technique varies from 0.3 to 15%, and is usually related to
inadvertent insertion of nasogastric tubes into the trachea and distal airways.
The main predisposing factors related to tube malpositioning and complications
are altered mental status with decreased cough or gag reflex, a preexisting
endotracheal tube and severe illness. Complications include severe aspiration
pneumonia, hydrothorax, hemothorax, empyema and pneumothorax. The
mortality related to misplacement of a nasogastric tube is around 0.1-0.3% of
the procedures. This 61-year old female had a history of poor appetite, weight
loss, dyspnea and fever. A chest axial computerized tomography showed
enlarged mediastinal lymph nodes. Laboratory showed hypercalcemia with
normal PTH and hypokalemia. As the patient remained anorectic, a nasogastric
feeding tube was placed, through which the administration of enteral diet, by
continuous infusion pump, was started. After 12 hours the patient developed
dyspnea, hypoxemia and hypotension. During orotracheal intubation, it
was disclosed the presence of the nasogastric tube in the trachea as well
as the infused diet within the respiratory tract. Autopsy revealed an unusual
complication of a nasogastric tube misplacement, which led to a massive
collection of enteral nutrition fluid into the pleural space – a “nutrothorax”.
Additionally, an underlying stage IV anaplastic large cell lymphoma with
interstitial lung and bronchial mucosa involvement was diagnosed.