Gastric Perforation Following Nasogastric Intubation in an Elderly Male.
In order to provide appropriate and timely treatment for an acute gastrointestinal bleed, it is vital to determine the site of hemorrhage. Historical clues and exam may be insufficient to differentiate upper from lower gastrointestinal bleeds and clinicians may utilize nasogastric lavage for diagnostic clarity. Nasogastric tube placement is a common procedure in the Emergency Department and is often viewed as benign. We present a patient presenting with hematochezia that developed pneumoperitineum secondary to nasogastric tube perforation of the gastric wall and discuss the literature regarding gastric lavage in the setting of gastrointestinal bleed.
Department of Emergency Medicine, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI.
Adam
A
Janicki
Department of Emergency Medicine, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI.
Chad
C
Van Ginkel
Department of Emergency Medicine, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI.
Jamieson
J
Cohn
D000208:Acute Disease; D000368:Aged; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007049:Iatrogenic Disease; D007441:Intubation, Gastrointestinal / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D010439:Peptic Ulcer Perforation / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000209:etiology; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed