Intracranial placement of nasogastric tube: an unusual complication.

We have described a case of intracranial placement of a nasogastric tube in a patient with severe head trauma. This complication occurs as a result of either passage through a traumatic defect in the cribriform plate associated with a severe head injury or direct penetration through an intact cribriform plate by an improperly passed rigid nasogastric tube. In combative semicomatose or comatose patients, oral placement may be preferable to nasogastric placement of a gastric tube.