Foreign Bodies in Ear and Upper Aero-digestive Tract in Tertiary Level Hospital

Abstract

Background: Foreign Bodies (FBs) are the commonest emergencies in Otorhinolaryngology. The most common incidences arein nasal cavity, ears and oropharynx. The most commonly swallowed foreign bodies in children are coins. It was aimed todescribe the nature, types, and location of FB impaction in addition to procedure of anesthesia & management of patients as well. Methods: All patients with history and clinical features of foreign body in otorhinolaryngology in both sexes during the 6months study period constituted the study population. This was a descriptive type of cross-sectional study done in a tertiarylevel hospital (Faridpur Medical College Hospital, Faridpur, Bangladesh). Results: The study was included 58 patients aged 6 months to 72 years were seen (mean: 22.46 years) with 33 males and 25females and a male: female ratio of 1.4: 1. Most common site of impaction were nasal cavity 19 cases (52.6%) then ear 13 cases(22.4%), hypopharynx 9 cases (8.6%),oropharynx 6 cases(10.3%), esophagus 5 cases (8.6%), soft tissue neck 4 cases (6.9%)and larynx 2 cases (3.4%). In this study most common FB was Fish bone 8(13.79%) then coin 5(8.62%). Most of the oro-pharyngeal FBs and nasal FBs were removed directly 33 (56.90%) by naked eye with forceps or FB hook. Only 2 cases (3.40%)nasal FBs were removed by endoscope. Esophagoscopy was done in 14 cases (24.1%).Foreign body soft tissue neck wasremoved with external approach in 4 patients (6.9%).Only in 3 cases microscope was needed to remove foreign body from ear(5.3%).Only in 2 cases (3.4%) laryngoscopy was needed to remove foreign body. FBs from nose & oropharynx mostlyremoved without anaesthesia 25(43.10%) though some FBs from nose & oro-pharynx were removed under local anaesthesiaby using 10% Xylocaine spray. Conclusion: The study findings felt the need for parental health education on object placements, and a high index of suspicionamong practitioners to facilitate early referral and avoid preventable complications.