Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Case Reports
. 2017 Sep 7:2017:bcr2017220287.
doi: 10.1136/bcr-2017-220287.

Nasogastric tube knotting: a rare and potentially overlooked complication among healthcare professionals

Vijay Chavda  1 , Tariq Alhammali  1 , Joanna Farrant  1 , Leena Naidu  2 , Saleem El-Rabaa  1
Affiliations
Case Reports

Nasogastric tube knotting: a rare and potentially overlooked complication among healthcare professionals

Vijay Chavda et al. BMJ Case Rep. .

Abstract

Nasogastric tube placement is a common procedure performed in surgical and medical specialities. The occurrence of knot formation is perhaps one of the least well-recognised complications associated with its usage. We present a case of nasogastric tube knotting to remind colleagues of this rare but important complication. A 75-year-old woman with adhesional bowel obstruction was admitted under the general surgery team. A wide bore nasogastric tube was inserted for drainage and decompression. Although placement of the tube was deemed to be successful, there was no drainage of gastric content evident. On removal of the 'non-functioning' tube a simple knot was seen at its proximal end. A further nasogastric tube was placed and the patient's symptoms resolved with conservative management. Nasogastric tube knotting is a rare and often overlooked complication with the potential to cause significant trauma on tube removal if unrecognised.

Keywords: gastroenterology; general surgery; nutritional support.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Competing interests: None declared.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
showing simple knot formation.
Figure 2
Figure 2
showing simple knot formation.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Coronal reformat of CT image showing small stomach volume.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Wright S, Warusavitarne J, Shaikh I. Safe removal of knotted nasogastric tubes. Nurs Times 2014;110:16–17.
    1. Ravind R, Prameela CG, Gurram BC, et al. . Naughty knot: a case of nasogastric tube knotting. BMJ Case Rep 2015;2015:bcr2015209937 10.1136/bcr-2015-209937 - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Cappell MS, Scarpa PJ, Nadler S, et al. . Complications of nasoenteral tubes. Intragastric tube knotting and intragastric tube breakage. J Clin Gastroenterol 1992;14:144–7. 10.1097/00004836-199203000-00015 - DOI - PubMed
    1. Isik A, Firat D, Peker K, et al. . A case report of esophageal perforation: complication of nasogastric tube placement. Am J Case Rep 2014;15:168–71. 10.12659/AJCR.890260 - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Freij RM, Mullett ST. Inadvertent intracranial insertion of a nasogastric tube in a non-trauma patient. J Accid Emerg Med 1997;14:45–7. 10.1136/emj.14.1.45 - DOI - PMC - PubMed

Publication types