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

Eur J Cardiothorac Surg. 2006 Nov;30(5):811-2. doi: 10.1016/j.ejcts.2006.08.005. Epub 2006 Sep 12.

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.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

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