Sausage asphyxia

A foreign body causing obstruction of the larynx is usually removed by coughing, blows to the back, chest thrusts, abdominal compression or finger sweep manoeuvres on the unconscious victim. In extremis, crichothyroidotomy or emergency tracheostomy may be the only life-saving option. Direct laryngoscopy may permit the removal of a foreign body from the larynx of an unconscious victim. Problems arise if the victim is semiconscious and not able to tolerate instruments in the mouth without sedative medication, which might result in the inhalation of the foreign body. A case of supraglottic impaction of the larynx by a piece of sausage occurred in our hospital; the patient was semiconscious. It was managed successfully by a carefully timed laryngoscope blade being inserted into the mouth without the aid of sedative drugs.