Chest tube tracks

Chest tube tracks may simulate normal structures or pathology. This article will help the radiologist to understand their formation and to recognize them as iatrogenic shadows.     

Intrapleural nasogastric tube insertion

A misplaced fine-bore nasogastric tube (NGT) might enter the bronchial tree. Pleural puncture and intrapleural passage of the tube is very uncommon but the location can often be inferred from the frontal chest radiograph. Following recognition of a NGT within the pleural space, progress films should be carefully screened for complications, particularly pneumothorax. This is often not done by staff involved in the monitoring of such patients because the staff frequently do not recognize the signs of intrapleural NGT insertion.     

US-guided fallopian tube catheterization

Ultrasound-guided fallopian tube catheterization was performed in seven women a total of 14 times. The women had normal-appearing fallopian tubes at hysterosalpingography and received sperm via the catheter as a way to overcome their inability to conceive. Techniques similar to those used for fluoroscopically guided fallopian tube catheterization were used. Forty-three percent of fallopian tubes were successfully catheterized.     

Proximal fallopian tube occlusion: diagnosis and treatment with transcervical fallopian tube catheterization

Transcervical fallopian tube catheterization (TFTC) was performed in 22 infertile patients with bilateral fallopian tube obstruction and a mean duration of infertility of 3.3 years. A high prevalence of previous ectopic pregnancy (n = 8, 36%), tubal ligation and/or reconstruction (n = 5, 23%), spontaneous or therapeutic abortion (n = 6, 27%), and previous intrauterine device use (n = 14, 64%) was noted. The authors successfully catheterized 40 (98%) of 41 tubes without serious complication and visualized the distal tube in 36 (88%) of 41 tubes. Free spill in at least one tube was seen in 17 (77%) of 22 patients. Nineteen patients had a history of previous laparoscopy or laparotomy for tubal disease, in 16 of whom laparoscopic results were available for review. Retrospectively, in 15 (94%) of 16 patients all clinically relevant abnormalities would have been detected by means of TFTC alone. Five patients conceived, three with intrauterine and two with ectopic pregnancies. Patients with intrauterine pregnancies had normal-appearing tubes after TFTC, while those with ectopic pregnancies had residual tubal abnormalities after recanalization. TFTC is a safe, accurate diagnostic procedure that provides more information than hysterosalpingography and, in most cases, as much or more information about the fallopian tubes than laparoscopy.     

X-ray checks of NG tube position: a case for guided tube placement

Objectives:Checking nasogastric (NG) tube position by X-ray is too late to prevent 1.5% of blind tube placements entering the lung and results in delays to feeding and drugs. We audit the safety of the tube position and delay incurred by X-ray.Methods:From Radiology reports, we determined whether tube position was safe for feeding, factors associated with an X-ray request and the time delay from X-ray request to that report. For tubes misplaced into the lung, the distance from the carina to tube tip was measured and compared with that from published records of guided tube placement.Results:From 1 July 2019 to 30 June 2020, 1934 X-rays were done to check NG tube position in 891 patients. Gastric placement was confirmed in 85% but, because of tube proximity to the oesophagus, only 73% were deemed safe to feed. The 2.2% of tubes reported to be in the lung were a median of 18 cm beyond the carina compared to 12 cm and 0 cm for electromagnetic and direct vision methods of guided placement. X-ray checks delayed feed and drug treatment by >2 h in 51% of placements and 33% of patients required >3 X-rays during their enteral episode.Conclusion:X-ray checks are common and detect a high percentage of unsafe tube placements, leading to repeated X-ray and delayed delivery of drugs and nutrition. Interpretation can be difficult even when following standard national criteria and post-placement X-ray cannot prevent deep lung placement. Guided or combined methods of confirming tube placement should be investigated.Advances in knowledge:Reports included 27.5% of placements as unsafe, 2.2% in the lung at a median depth of 18 cm beyond the carina and too late to prevent 7 pneumothoraces. X-rays were repeated >3 times in 33% of patients over their enteral course and we are associated with clinically significant delays to drug treatment (and nutrition) in 51%; combined methods of tube confirmation or guided placement may be safer and more efficient.     

鼻胃管与鼻肠管在伴应激性溃疡的重症神经外科患者的联合应用

目的总结在应用鼻胃管引流治疗重症神经外科患者的应激性溃疡同时应用鼻肠管早期恢复患者肠内营养的经验。方法 2011年1月—2011年6月神经外科重症监护病房(NICU)30名出现应激性溃疡患者行鼻胃管引流及同时置鼻肠管,第2天行胸腹部X线检查确认鼻肠管位置后早期行肠内营养。同时监测胃残量。结果 30例患者在鼻胃管引流治疗同时均一次性鼻肠管置管成功,置管后次日恢复早期肠内营养。结论鼻胃管与鼻肠管在伴应激性溃疡的重症神经外科患者的联合应用是治疗应激性溃疡同时早期恢复肠内营养的有效方式。     

Carcinoma of the fallopian tube

Primary adenocarcinoma of the fallopian tube is a rare neoplasm that constitutes less than 1% of gynecologic malignancies. Although the triad of menorrhagia, leukorrhea, and pain is said to be pathognomonic, preoperative diagnosis of this lesion is most unusual. The radiographic appearance at hysterosalpingography has only rarely been described in the English literature previously. This therefore is an unusual documentation of the preoperative appearance of fallopian adenocarcinoma by hysterosalpingography and sonography.