Abstract
Foreign body ingestion is a common complaint frequently seen in otolaryngology. Some sharp foreign bodies may get impacted in the aerodigestive tract causing a perforation. However, hypopharyngeal perforation is a rare injury that needs early recognition due to its significant morbidity. In this case report, we report a case of hypopharyngeal perforation caused by foreign body ingestion in an adult patient. A 60-year-old female presented with a foreign body sensation in the throat, dysphagia, and odynophagia. A neck CT scan showed a foreign body in the hypopharynx with a collection of free air along the posterior pharyngeal wall. She underwent laryngoscopy and esophagoscopy for examination and foreign body removal. Following the procedure, the patient was treated conservatively for a week and then discharged home in a stable condition. Hypopharyngeal perforation following foreign body ingestion is uncommon. A high index of suspicion is required to reach an early diagnosis and treatment.
Highlights
Upper aerodigestive tract foreign body is a common emergency complaint frequently seen in otolaryngology [1]
Some sharp foreign bodies may get impacted in the aerodigestive tract causing a perforation [3]
We present a case of hypopharyngeal perforation caused by foreign body ingestion that was treated conservatively
Summary
Upper aerodigestive tract foreign body is a common emergency complaint frequently seen in otolaryngology [1]. We present a case of hypopharyngeal perforation caused by foreign body ingestion that was treated conservatively. The patient’s medical and surgical histories were only significant for bronchial asthma, dyslipidemia, fibromyalgia, and hypertension She was hemodynamically stable and saturating well on room air with no signs of respiratory distress. A lateral neck soft tissue X-ray confirmed the presence of a foreign body in the hypopharynx with a linear radiolucency in the retropharyngeal space representing free air (Figure 1). A neck computed tomography (CT) scan demonstrated a linear hyperdense foreign body in the hypopharynx with free air along the retropharyngeal space representing a concealed perforation (Figure 2). Examination post foreign body removal showed a small wound in the posterior pharyngeal wall, which represents the site of the perforation (Figure 3). The patient was allowed to resume oral feeding and was discharged home in a stable condition
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
