Jpen Parenter Enter
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Jpen Parenter Enter · Jul 1984
Case ReportsFatal cardiac tamponade in a patient receiving total parenteral nutrition via a silastic central venous catheter.
This is the first reported case of cardiac tamponade secondary to ventricular perforation involving a silastic catheter. The catheter had advanced into the right ventricle and become enmeshed in the trabeculae carnae. At autopsy there was an area of necrosis which we presumed was caused by the continuous direct contact of a small area of endocardium and subadjacent myocardium with the hypertonic infusate used for parenteral nutrition.
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Jpen Parenter Enter · Jul 1984
Case ReportsPneumothorax following attempted nasogastric intubation for nutritional support.
Nasogastric intubation is a routine procedure, performed daily by both medical and nursing staff. It is a simple procedure, but not without complications which can be life threatening. We present an unusual, life threatening complication which occurred when nasogastric intubation using a no. 8 polyurethane tube with its metal stilet resulted in a pneumothorax after intubation of the endotracheal tree in the presence of a cuffed endotracheal tube. We emphasize that the presence of a cuffed endotracheal tube should not be considered a safeguard against pulmonary intubation during nasogastric placement of a feeding catheter.