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Published on: April 17, 2020
Iatrogenic bowel obstruction caused by balloon-inflated feeding tubes
1Norris Cancer Hospital, University of Southern California, USA. yassa@hsc.usc.edu
Objective:
To determine whether balloon-inflated feeding tubes may be a cause of bowel obstruction.
Methods:
Evaluation of 10 patients with balloon-inflated feeding tubes who experienced cramping, nausea and vomiting. Conventional radiography of the abdomen was performed in all patients, a fluoroscopic barium examination in 6 patients, and computed tomographic scanning of the abdomen and pelvis in 4 patients.
Results:
All patients had a bowel obstruction caused by the inflated balloon. Deflating the balloon relieved the obstructive symptoms immediately.
Conclusion:
Balloon-inflated feeding tubes can cause bowel obstruction.
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