Abnormal course of nasogastric tube in traumatic rupture of left hemidiaphragm.

In a review of 17 surgically proven cases of acute traumatic diaphragmatic hernia, a nasogastric tube had been inserted preoperatively in eight. In six of these patients the tube followed a characteristic course, indicating the diagnosis of gastric herniation into the left hemithorax. In four cases the passage of the tubing established the diagnosis; in the other two cases the diagnosis was suggested by plain films alone, but subsequent passage of the nasogastric tube provided confirmation.