Inadvertent Nasogastric Tube Placement into the Left Bronchial Tree.

Nasogastric tube insertion is a routine procedure that is utilized on a daily basis in our hospitals and long-term care facilities. Blind insertion of these tubes is usually performed by nurses, residents and other health care providers. In this report, we present an incident of misplacement of the nasogastric tube into the bronchial tree causing parenchymal injury and pneumothorax. We also highlight the importance of nasogastric tube placement confirmation and possible pitfalls in interpreting confirmation radiographs.