Blindly inserted nasogastric feeding tubes and thoracic complications in intensive care英文文献资料.docVIP

Vol.2, No.10, 1135-1141 (2010) Health doi:10.4236/health.2010.210166 Blindly inserted nasogastric feeding tubes and thoracic complications in intensive care Elpis Giantsou*, Kevin J. Gunning John V. Farman Intensive Care Unit, Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Trust, England, UK; *Corresponding Author: elpisgiantsou@ Received 4 July 2010; revised 13 July 2010; accepted 20 July 2010. ABSTRACT without risks. This is the reason why the National Patient Safety Agency in the United Kingdom has recently issu- ed a safety alert regarding the placement of nasogastric feeding tubes in neonatal intensive care units [2]. More than 50% of malpositioned blindly inserted nasogastric feeding tubes occur in patients with endotracheal tube or tracheostomy [3]. The malpositioned nasogastric feeding tubes are not included in risk management databases, therefore they may well be underreported. This may ex- -plain, at least in part why the data on malpositioned nasogastric tubes in mechanically ventilated patients are limited. Recent data suggest that malpositioned blindly inserted feeding tubes may cause serious thoracic com- plications in mechanically ventilated patients. Rassias et al. reported that of 13 mechanically ventilated patients with malpositioned blindly inserted feeding tubes 36% had serious complications [4]. Similarly, Mardestein et al. reported that of 57 mechanically ventilated with malpositioned nasogastric feeding tubes 38% had serious thoracic complications [5]. However, these reports may be difficult to interpret as they investigated interventions to reduce malpositions of nasogastric and promote a safer placement of nasogastric tubes in mechanically ventilated patients. Purpose of review: This article reviews the tho- racic complications from malpositioned blindly inserted nasogastric feeding tubes in mechani- cally ventilated patients in intensive care