Nasogastric tube syndrome: the unilateral variant.
Nasogastric tube syndrome is an uncommon but a potentially life-threatening complication of nasogastric intubation. It presents as an acute upper airway obstruction secondary to bilateral abductor vocal cord dysfunction resulting from postcricoid chondritis. However, a unilateral variant has also been reported and may herald the development of bilateral pathology. The purpose of this report is to highlight early warning signals of impending crisis.


METHODS
A case of unilateral vocal cord involvement secondary to postcricoid chondritis resulting from nasogastric intubation is presented. An additional feature, not reported previously, is the presence of two inflammatory nodular swellings over the cricoid cartilage.
Nehru
Vikas Inder Nath
VI
Al Adan Hospital, Ahmedi Region, Kuwait. docvik9@hotmail.com
Al Shammari
Hussein Jasser
HJ
Jaffer
Abdul Mohsen
AM
D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D003413:Cricoid Cartilage / Q000293:injuries* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007441:Intubation, Gastrointestinal / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013577:Syndrome; D014826:Vocal Cord Paralysis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy