Abstract

Background:An abnormal position of nasogastric and rectal tubes can be the cause of iatrogenic injuries Most often it can happen in neonates and premature infants.Material/Methods: From 1982 through 2003, we observed 9 neonates (8 premature infants) with perforation of the alimentary tract.Results: In most of these patients the only radiological sign was displacement of the nasogastric tube. In 5 children the tube was outside the esophagus, in 3 outside the stomach, and in 1 case perforation was caused by the rectal cannula. Neonates with esophageal perforation were treated conservatively with good effects. Surgical treatment was performed in four children with gastric and rectal perforation – two of whom died.Conclusions: Evaluation of the position of nasogastric tube on the plain chest and abdominal x-ray is a very important diagnostic Consideration. Any deviation from the normal course of the tube should be suggestive of alimentary tract injury, even in the absence of any other signs of perforation.

Keywords: iatrogenic alimentary tract perforation, newborns