title: The nasogastric tube syndrome in infants.
abstract: This series of three patients is the first description of the presentation, clinical course, and endoscopic findings of nasogastric tube-related airway distress, or nasogastric tube syndrome, in infants. We identify key differences in disease features from those described in adults, based on our literature review. Specifically, infant nasogastric tube syndrome presented as significant respiratory distress and postcricoid inflammation without vocal fold immobility. Symptoms resolved more quickly (mean±SD, 2±1 days) than reported in adults. We suggest that nasogastric tube syndrome should be considered in infants with otherwise unexplained respiratory distress, even in the absence of impaired vocal fold mobility.
authors.affiliation: University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Office of Student Affairs, Medical Sciences Building E-251, PO Box 670552, Cincinnati, OH 45267, United States.
authors.forename: Jeffrey
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Harmon
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, 3333 Burnet Avenue, MLC-2018, Cincinnati, OH 45229, United States. Electronic address: karthik.balakrishnan@cchmc.org.
authors.forename: Karthik
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Balakrishnan
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, 3333 Burnet Avenue, MLC-2018, Cincinnati, OH 45229, United States; Department of Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, 231 Albert Sabin Way ML 0528, Cincinnati, OH 45267, United States.
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: de Alarcon
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, 3333 Burnet Avenue, MLC-2018, Cincinnati, OH 45229, United States; Department of Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, 231 Albert Sabin Way ML 0528, Cincinnati, OH 45267, United States.
authors.forename: Catherine K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Hart
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D020878:Device Removal; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007441:Intubation, Gastrointestinal / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D007828:Laryngoscopy / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D012135:Respiratory Sounds / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012494:Sampling Studies; D013577:Syndrome; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014827:Vocal Cords / Q000503:physiopathology*
keywords: Infant; Nasogastric tube; Respiratory distress; Stridor