Auto Accidents Can Lead to Nasogastric Tube Issues
I’m Ed Smith, a Sacramento Auto Accident Attorney. There are many reasons why someone may need to have a nasogastric tube placed. Sometimes, for reasons of their past medical history, people will need a nasogastric tube inserted through their nose and into their stomach so that they can still receive nutrition despite being unable to eat by mouth. When someone is involved in a traumatic accident, these foreign bodies (which are medically necessary) can cause serious problems.
Nasogastric Tube Placement
It’s not unusual for a parent to have a baby that requires a nasogastric tube in a hospital, mainly if the baby was born pre-term, because the baby may not know how to suck on a bottle yet. Sometimes, even babies that are able to suck on a bottle may not be able to take their entire bottle at once. In this situation, a nasogastric tube may be placed to deliver the rest of the nutrition. In adults, there are numerous reasons why a nasogastric tube could be required. For example, someone can have a head, neck, or spinal cord injury that makes it difficult for them to feed through their esophagus. In this situation, a nasogastric tube may be required to keep the throat from having to contract and swallow nutrition. The nasogastric tube is snaked through the nose, down the esophagus, and into the stomach. If this tube isn’t adequate, a tube can be placed directly into the stomach or even into the small intestine or small bowel. It is also not unusual for someone to require a nasogastric tube after being involved in a car accident. Sometimes, people cannot eat or swallow without pain, requiring a nasogastric tube. However, if someone has a skull fracture, it can be challenging to place a nasogastric tube.
A Car Crash: Issues on the Road
A team of medical professionals recently published a case report detailing a 52-year-old patient who was involved in a car accident. This patient had a nasogastric tube in place when the accident occurred, and the medical team was concerned about whether or not the trauma impacted the nasogastric tube. The medical team suctioned the tube and received red fluid, indicating that the patient may have had some bleeding in his gastrointestinal tract. However, the liquid was also serious in nature. Due to the trauma that the patient had suffered, he was taken for imaging of his skull. X-rays showed that the nasogastric tube had coiled in the skull. This is a severe problem, and the tube was removed immediately. The patient was evaluated multiple times after the tube was taken out and during the recovery process. Fortunately, the patient recovered without any long-term complications.
Chronic Medical Problems: A History is Important
This case study helps illustrate some key points regarding a nasogastric tube and placement following a traumatic accident. First, the head and neck needed to be checked for injuries before placing the tube. If there has been damage to the nose or upper airway, the tube may not go through the nose. Also, any swelling in the trachea of the esophagus can make it almost impossible to place the tube in the stomach. If the tube is put down the trachea instead of the throat, the nutrition is being delivered to the lungs instead of the stomach. This will lead to someone developing pneumonia and can cause some severe lung damage. Furthermore, if the patient has significant injuries, the nasogastric tube could coil and snake into the brain. This will be seen with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaking into the tube and constitutes a medical emergency.
Sacramento Auto Accident Attorney
I’m Ed Smith, a Sacramento Auto Accident Attorney. Car accidents can lead to severe nasogastric issues. If you or a loved one has been involved in a crash and subsequently required placement of a nasogastric tube, call me for free, friendly legal advice at (916) 921-6400 or (800) 404-5400.
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