title: Percutaneous pharyngostomy versus gastric tube placement in head injured patients. A prospective comparative study of 50 patients.
abstract: The author reports a prospective comparative study in two groups of patients with head injuries where the complications of conventional nasal placement of nasogastric tubes are compared to placement by pharyngostomy. Percutaneous pharyngostomy is a simple procedure that eliminates some of the complications associated with the use of nasogastric tubes. It has particular advantages in patients with maxillofacial- and skull base injuries, is well tolerated in patients with a depressed level of consciousness and eliminates some of the infective complications associated with the use of nasogastric tubes.
authors: Department of Neurosurgery, H. F. Verwoerd Hospital, Pretoria, South Africa.
authors: J J
authors: JJ
authors: du Plessis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003422:Critical Care; D016489:Head Injuries, Closed / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007441:Intubation, Gastrointestinal / Q000295:instrumentation; D010613:Pharyngostomy / Q000295:instrumentation; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000209:etiology