Underwater-seal nasogastric tube drainage to relieve gastric distension caused by air swallowing.

Abstract

Air swallowing can occur as a psychogenic phenomenon, because of abnormal anatomy, or during non-invasive positive pressure ventilation. Gross distension of the stomach with air can have severe consequences for the respiratory and gastrointestinal systems. We report the case of a 62-year-old man with severe dynamic hyperinflation due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, who developed respiratory failure requiring intubation a few hours after radical prostatectomy. Following a percutaneous tracheostomy and weaning of sedation on day six, his abdomen began to enlarge progressively. X-rays revealed massive gastric distension due to air swallowing, which continued despite all efforts to optimise therapy. The use of an underwater seal drainage system on a nasogastric tube improved ventilation and ultimately aided weaning from mechanical support.

• Authors: A W Solomon, J C Bramall, J Ball
• Journal: Anaesthesia (Anaesthesia) Vol. 66 Issue 2 Pg. 124-6 (Feb 2011) ISSN: 1365-2044 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 21128904 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)
• Copyright: © 2010 The Authors. Anaesthesia © 2010 The Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland.

Chemical References

• Water

Topics

• Aerophagy (etiology, therapy)
• Drainage (instrumentation, methods)
• Humans
• Intubation, Gastrointestinal (methods)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Nasal Cavity
• Postoperative Care (methods)
• Prostatectomy
• Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive (complications)
• Ventilator Weaning
• Water