An Umbrella as a Potential Foreign Body in the Oral Cavity of the Pediatric Population: Report of Two Cases

Abstract

Foreign bodies in the oropharynx of the pediatric population are a well-known subject within the medical field. This report deals with two cases of a very unusual foreign body: an umbrella. Case 1 A 5-year-old boy was brought to the emergency room at the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) with the handle of an umbrella protruding through his mouth. The child had fallen face first on the handle while at school. On physical examination, the child was quiet and calm. His vital signs were all stable with oxygen saturation 100% on room air. The umbrella was protruding through his mouth., with minimal bleeding around its handle (Figure 1). Plain film radiography was not helpful because the intraoral part was radiolucent. The patient was rushed to the operating room. Under intravenous sedation, the umbrella was manipulated out of the child's mouth, and then he was endotracheally intubated. A thorough examination under anesthesia and exploration of the oropharynx revealed a 4 cm laceration in the right floor of the mouth, sparing the submandibular duct. There were no other observed injuries. The laceration was repaired primarily. The patient was discharged home on the same day once oral intake was established and covered with oral antibiotics. No long-term sequelae resulted.