Accidental Pneumothorax from a Nasogastric Tube

To the Editor: We report an instance of the intrapleural administration of charcoal due to penetration of the pleura by a transbronchial nasogastric tube. A 37-year-old woman jailed for public intoxication was transferred to our center. Before her transport, a nasogastric tube was inserted through which 180 ml of activated charcoal slurry was lavaged to treat a suspected ingestion of drug. On her arrival, the patient was awake but lethargic, with a Glasgow coma score of 15. Her voice was minimally hoarse, and her vital signs normal. Portable chest radiography revealed a pneumothorax and nasogastric intubation of the right mainstem . . .