ABSTRACT
Four patients had soft, narrow-bore feeding tubes passed transbronchially into the pleural space. Guide wires were used to aid passage and may have contributed to this complication. The errant positioning of the tube was first noted roentgenographically in each case. Alternate methods of inserting such tubes in patients with altered airway and swallowing reflexes may be needed. Radiographic confirmation of the tube's position is essential before starting tube feedings.
Subject(s)
Enteral Nutrition/adverse effects , Intubation, Gastrointestinal/adverse effects , Pleura/injuries , Aged , Female , Humans , Male , Pleura/diagnostic imaging , Pleural Effusion , Pneumothorax/etiology , RadiographyABSTRACT
The features of cardiovascular and pulmonary disease in exercise testing are described. In general, ventilatory limitation is the most common factor in lung disease. An early anaerobic threshold and a decreased VO2 mix in the absence of ventilatory limitation is the usual feature of severe heart disease.
