title: Lethal complication from insertion of nasogastric tube after severe basilar skull fracture.
abstract: An unusual complication is presented arising from the use of a nasogastric tube in a patient with a massive basilar skull fracture. Intracranial passage of the NG tube resulted. Therefore, in the presence of a severe basilar fracture and/or significant maxillofacial trauma where the integrity of the base of the skull may be in question, one should be very hesitant to insert tubes into the nasopharynx.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007441:Intubation, Gastrointestinal / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D009777:Occipital Bone / Q000293:injuries*; D012887:Skull Fractures / Q000150:complications*