Iatrogenic-Dobhoff tube-pneumothorax
Iatrogenic-Dobhoff tube-pneumothorax 1. Cause An iatrogenic pneumothorax due to a Dobhoff tube (a type of small-bore, flexible nasogastric feeding tube) occurs when the tube is inadvertently placed into the tracheobronchial tree and perforates the lung parenchyma, causing air to leak into the pleural space. 2. Etiology This complication is caused by misplacement of the Dobhoff tube during attempted insertion, where instead of advancing into the esophagus and stomach, the tube: Enters the trachea , Travels into a bronchus , Perforates the lung , causing a pneumothorax . Risk factors include: Impaired gag/cough reflex (e.g., due to sedation, neurologic impairment, or intubation/extubation), Altered mental status , Improper insertion technique or forceful advancement, Absence of fluoroscopic or endoscopic guidance , Overreliance on auscultation or air insufflation to confirm placement. 3. Patho...