Varied Manifestations of Sharp Penetrating Foreign Bodies in the Aerodigestive Tract: Our Experience.

Abstract

Introduction Foreign bodyingestion or aspiration is an emergency dealt by otorhinolaryngologists. It is most common among children and the geriatric population. It paves the way for critical morbidity when prompt treatment is not initiated. Therefore, in the absence of strong evidence to guide decision-making, all suspicious presentations of the ingested sharp foreign body needto be kept in mind while making a diagnosis. Hence, our study is aimed to document the varied manifestations of sharp penetrating foreign bodies in the aerodigestive tract. Materials and methods The medical records of 40 patients who presented with sharp foreign body ingestion/aspiration in the department of otorhinolaryngologyin our centre from September 2012 to September 2022were reviewed retrospectively. Results In all 40 patients, we were able to retrieve the foreign body as such without crushing or breaking it.In our study, the most common foreign body retrieved among middle-aged and elderly were chicken bone (22.5%) or fish bone (25%), and the most common foreign body following accidental ingestion in children were stapler pins (20%). Conclusion The findings of our study concluded thatrelevant clinical history, atypical presentation, and radiological imaging of sharp penetrating foreign bodies in the neck should be addressed with the utmost caution, as foreign bodies migrate to deep neck space and bronchus and can result in untoward complications. Hence, we need to be suspicious of the varied manifestation of aerodigestive tract foreign bodiesfor early diagnosis and prompt treatment.