Breakage of an orogastric tube in a critically Ill patient: a case report.

UNLABELLED: Orogastric and nasogastric tubes are common methods of enteral feeding. Although the methods of tube feeding are simple, these methods are not free of complications.

CASE PRESENTATION: This case report describes a 58-year-old patient with the diagnosis of stroke, in whom there was breakage of an orogastric tube during a prolonged ICU stay.

CLINICAL DISCUSSION: Early enteral feeding in patients without any contraindications is associated with improved organ survival and recovery, and decreased incidence of infections, which decreases the ICU stay and improves the overall outcome. Nasogastric and orogastric tubes are the most commonly inserted feeding tubes. Breakage of an orogastric tube is a rare complication that can occur due to manufacturing defects, exposure to a harsh acidic environment, and forceful flushing of an obstructed tube.

CONCLUSIONS

Timely identification of the broken feeding tube can help the treating clinicians retrieve it easily even with the help of a laryngoscope in selected patients.