ANESTHETIC MANAGEMENT FOR RETROPHARYNGEAL FOREIGN BODY REMOVAL IN AN ADULT WITH ANTICIPATED DIFFICULT AIRWAY VIA NASOTRACHEAL INTUBATION

Abstract

Foreign body aspiration is relatively rare in adults compared to children. Cases involving foreign bodies fully embedded in the retropharyngeal space are exceptionally uncommon in clinical practice, posing significant challenges for both surgeons and anesthesiologists. A shared airway between these specialists, coupled with the difficulty of visualizing and extracting the foreign object, presents notable concerns. Here, we present a case detailing the successful removal of a sharp foreign body, a chicken bone, lodged in the retropharyngeal space of an adult male patient with restricted mouth opening and an anticipated difficult airway, achieved under general anesthesia with nasotracheal intubation.