Nasal foreign bodies: description of types and complications in 420 cases

Ricardo Rodrigues Figueiredo,Andréia A Azevedo,Arthur Octávio De Ávila Kós,Shiro Tomita

doi:10.1016/s1808-8694(15)30028-8

Ricardo Rodrigues Figueiredo, Andréia A Azevedo + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1016/s1808-8694(15)30028-8

Copy DOI

Abstract

SummaryNasal cavities foreign bodies are common accidents in children, sometimes leading, in accordance with the literature, to complications such as epistaxis and bronchoaspiration. Diagnosis is often made with anterior rhinoscopy, but sometimes nasal fibroendoscopy and imaging may be useful.AimTo evaluate 420 cases of nasal foreign bodies removed in ENT Service of Souza Aguiar Hospital, Rio de Janeiro, as related to sex, age, type of foreign body and complications.Materials and method420 cases of nasal foreign bodies removed in the ENT service of Souza Aguiar Hospital between December 1992 and December 1998 were evaluated according to the parameters related above.ResultsWe found higher incidence between 0 and 4 years of age, and the most frequently found foreign bodies were foam fragments, plastic pieces of little toys, beans and paper fragments. Complications occurred in 9.05% of the cases, epistaxis and vestibulitis being the commonest.ConclusionNasal foreign bodies are especially found between the ages of 0 and 4 years. In our study, foam fragments and small plastic objects were the most frequent foreign bodies found. Complications were found in 9.05% of the cases, headed by epistaxis and nasal vestibulitis.

Highlights

Foreign bodies are a rather common problem, specially in pediatric otolaryngology, being frequently followed by complications, some with significant severity[1,2,3]
As far as complications were concerned, they were seen in 9.05% of the cases, epistaxis being the most common one (7.06%), followed by nasal vestibulitis (1.32%) and tissue necrosis (0.65%)
Nasal cavities foreign bodies are accidents mostly seen in children up to 4 years of age, in most situations they are avoidable if the parents are careful and attentive

Summary

Introduction

Foreign bodies are a rather common problem, specially in pediatric otolaryngology, being frequently followed by complications, some with significant severity[1,2,3]. The first years of a child’s life represent a phase of exploration and interaction with the environment. When they start moving by their own means (crawling and walking), the child starts having access to a number of objects that have to be duly explored. This process encompasses, amongst other things, the placement of objects in orifices, such as the ears, nose and throat[3]. Noses and throats are the most exposed orifices, the high incidence of foreign bodies in them

Objectives

Results

Discussion

Conclusion