A 17-year-old man on mechanical ventilatory support developed cardiopulmonary arrest, the cause of which was identified to be the accidental presence of a suctioning nasogastric tube in the bronchus. When there is an inexplicable gas leak in the patient-ventilator system, a chest film should be taken to clarify the question.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
SwillichCW, PiersonDJ, CreaghCE, SuttonFD, SchatzE, PettyTL. Complications of assisted ventilation: A prospective study of 354 consecutive episodes. Am J Med1974;57:161–69.
2.
FlemingWH, BowenJC. Early complications of long-term respiratory support. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg1972;64:729–38.
3.
KirchTJ, DeKornfeldTJ. An unexpected complication (hyperthermia) while using the Emerson postoperative ventilator. Anesthesiology1967;28:1106.
4.
KirkpatrickBV, FelmanAH, EitzmanDV. Complications of ventilator therapy in respiratory distress syndrome. Am J Dis Child1974;128:496–502.
5.
LindholmCE, OllmanB, SnyderJ, MillenE, GrenvikA.Flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy in critical care medicine. Crit Care Med1974;2:250–61.
6.
MartzKV, JoinerJ, ShepherdRM. Management of the patient-ventilator system. St Louis: CV Mosby Co.1979:103–06.