Rupture of the stomach following mouth-to-mouth respiration.

Introduction The introduction of oxygen via a nasopharingeal tube (Hilgin, 1952/3) or, accidentally, by a nasoendotracheal tube located in the oesophagus (Longobardi, Ruggles and Burgess, 1961) has on rare occasions led to sudden rupture of the stomach. Geroulanos (1972) reviewed the literature on this subject and noted that only two of twelve patients who had developed a rupture of the stomach after receiving oxygen therapy via a nasopharyngeal tube survived. Modern methods ofresuscitation following cardiac arrest include external cardiac massage and oxygen administered via an endotracheal tube. When an endotracheal tube is not available or cannot be introduced rapidly, mouth-to-mouth respiration must be instituted. The following case demonstrates one complication that may occur if this procedure is done with excessive physical effort and without due observation of measures designed to avoid it.