Use of glucagon for removal of an orogastric lavage tube

This report presents the first case in which glucagon administration enabled the removal of an impacted orogastric tube in a patient with distal esophageal spasm. For patients in whom the removal of a gastric tube is impeded, we suggest initially determining tube position and checking for any knotting or kinking of the tube using fluoroscopy. Provided that the gastric tube is distal to the mid-esophagus and is not kinked or knotted, we suggest that glucagon can be used as an adjunctive modality for gastric tube removal. This care provides an additional and previously unreported use for glucagon in emergency medicine.