Blind nasoenteric tube placement risks: A case report of misplacement into the pleural cavity

Enteral nutrition is a critical component of care for critically ill patients. However, the blind insertion of a nasoenteric tube, despite being a simple procedure, carries inherent risks that necessitate a reevaluation of the technique.

A case of a 60-year-old female experienced the rare yet critical complication of a misplaced nasoenteric tube entering the thoracic cavity during a blind insertion procedure for enteral nutrition following a liver transplant.

Following liver transplantation, the patient was diagnosed with severe pneumonia, a right-sided hydropneumothorax, and severe malnutrition.

After the misplacement of the nasoenteric tube into the pleural cavity was detected from the chest X-ray, the tube was immediately removed, and the pneumothorax was actively managed. Subsequently, with the support of contrast radiography, the nasoenteric tube was successfully reinserted to provide the patient with nutritional support and promote rehabilitation.

The patient responded well to the intervention and was discharged in stable condition following complete recovery.

The case prompts a reevaluation of blind placement techniques and calls for the adoption of more reliable technologies to prevent similar incidents and ensure patient safety, such as electromagnetic and visualized guided placement technique.