A case of nasogastric tube syndrome requiring ejnell’s operation

• Published in: Stomato-pharyngology Vol. 34; no. 1; pp. 137 - 140
• Main Authors: Kimura, Yurika, Hirabayashi, Eiko, Kudo, Kento, Kobayashi, Hitome, Mizuyoshi, Tomomi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Japanese
• Published: Japan Society of Stomato-pharyngology 2021; 日本口腔・咽頭科学会
• Subjects: ejnell technique; nasogastric tube syndrome; vocal cord abductor paralysis; 声帯外方移動術; 声帯外転障害; 経鼻胃管症候群
• ISSN: 0917-5105; 1884-4316
• DOI: 10.14821/stomatopharyngology.34.137

We report a case of nasogastric tube syndrome （NGTS） with a review of the literature. In this patient, a nasogastric tube was inserted for drug administration during artificial respiration management. At the time of extubation, vocal cord abduction dysfunction was observed, and a tracheostomy was performed. The patient was followed up for approximately 6 months after the surgery; however, the bilateral vocal cords were still fixed in the median position, and so left vocal cord lateralization was performed. Many clinical features of NGTS are still unclear, and it is necessary to screen patients for the presence of this disease during nasogastric tube insertion. Vocal cord dysfunction is believed to be caused by compression of the nasogastric tube to the posterior laryngeal muscle in the postcricoid area, which passes through the midline of the pharynx into the postcricoid area. It is important to adjust the position of the nasogastric tube by using a pharynx endoscope together in case of the midline position of the nasogastric tube. There is no established treatment for recovering impaired vocal cord mobility; future studies are warranted.