The initiation of oronasal breathing when the nasal pathway becomes obstructed requires a complex interaction of neuromuscular responses which are normally present in all but very young infants. We describe an elderly lady who developed respiratory failure partially due to an inability to initiate oral breathing when her nasopharynx was compromised by a nasogastric tube. (Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition12:531-532, 1988)
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