Day: July 14, 2020

Newborn with distended abdomen after nasogastric tube placement

AXR of gastric perforation from nasogastric tube placement
Supine AXR (left) shows a large amount of air within the abdomen and air outlining both sides of bowel wall (Rigler’s sign) in the right lower quadrant. Supine AXR taken later after pulling back of the nasogastric tube out of the stomach shows visualization of the falciform ligament over the spine (American football sign)

The diagnosis was pneumoperitoneum due to gastric perforation during nasogastric tube placement.