Nasogastric Tube Placement and Esophageal Perforation in Extremely Low Birth Weight Infants

Su-Boon Yong1, Jui-Shan Ma2, Feng-Shun Chen3

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Show Chwan Memorial Hospital, Changhua, Taiwan.

Insights

Esophageal perforation from nasogastric tubes can occur in preterm infants. Nonsurgical management with nutrition and antibiotics led to survival without complications in three neonates.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal Medicine
  • Pediatric Surgery
  • Gastroenterology

Background:

  • Nasogastric tube placement is a common procedure in neonatal intensive care units.
  • Iatrogenic esophageal perforation is a known, albeit infrequent, complication.

Observation:

  • Three cases of esophageal perforation secondary to nasogastric tube insertion in preterm infants are presented.
  • The perforations were identified following clinical suspicion and diagnostic imaging.

Findings:

  • All three neonates received conservative management, including parenteral nutrition and broad-spectrum antibiotics.
  • No surgical intervention was required for any of the cases.
  • All neonates recovered fully without long-term adverse effects or sequelae.

Implications:

  • Nonsurgical management is a viable and effective approach for iatrogenic esophageal perforation in neonates.
  • Highlighting preventative strategies during nasogastric tube placement is crucial.
  • This case series supports a conservative treatment paradigm, potentially reducing the need for invasive procedures.

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