Inadvertent intracranial placement of a nasogastric tube through a basal skull fracture.

Inadvertent intracranial placement of nasogastric tubes may occur during intubation of patients with severe maxillofacial trauma and basal skull fractures. Oral intubation, nasogastric intubation under fluoroscopy, or nasogastric intubation under direct vision will eliminate the possibility of this complication.