Successful treatment with one-way endobronchial valve of large air-leakage complicating narrow-bore enteral feeding tube malposition.

Abstract

Tracheopulmonary intubation is the most common misplacement site for narrow-bore feeding tube and it might be associated with severe pleuro-pulmonary complications. A 38-year-old female with a severe bilateral pneumonia and acute respiratory insufficiency was admitted in the ICU, intubated, and mechanically ventilated. Few hours after the insertion of a narrow-bore feeding tube the patient's oxygen saturation dropped with hypotension and tachycardia. A large left-side hydropneumothorax developed requiring a chest tube. Air-leakage was important and bronchoscopic implant of one-way endobronchial valve was accomplished. Immediate and substantial decrease of air-leakage was observed, and it completely stopped after 5 days; as soon as the patient was extubated. Endobrochial one-way valve, specifically designed for bronchoscopic lung volume reduction, resulted in being safe and effective to control a significant and prolonged air-leakage due to a malposition of a narrow-bore feeding tube.

• Authors: Tiziano De Giacomo, Federico Venuta, Daniele Diso, Giorgio Furio Coloni
• Journal: European journal of cardio-thoracic surgery : official journal of the European Association for Cardio-thoracic Surgery (Eur J Cardiothorac Surg) Vol. 30 Issue 5 Pg. 811-2 (Nov 2006) ISSN: 1010-7940 [Print] Germany
• PMID: 16971135 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Topics

• Adult
• Air
• Bronchoscopy
• Enteral Nutrition (adverse effects)
• Female
• Foreign Bodies (diagnostic imaging, etiology, therapy)
• Humans
• Hydropneumothorax (diagnostic imaging, etiology, therapy)
• Intubation, Gastrointestinal (adverse effects)
• Radiography
• Respiratory System (diagnostic imaging)