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Unusual presentation of laryngeal foreign bodies - report of two rare cases

Jaimanti Bakshi1, S B S Mann, Ashok K Gupta

  • 1Dept. of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education & Research, Chandigarh, India.

Indian Journal of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery : Official Publication of the Association of Otolaryngologists of India
|November 3, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Foreign body aspiration in the larynx is rare in adults but common in children. This report details two cases where foreign bodies were missed preoperatively, highlighting diagnostic challenges and successful endoscopic removal in both pediatric and adult patients.

Area of Science:

  • Otolaryngology
  • Pediatric Pulmonology
  • Emergency Medicine

Background:

  • Foreign body aspiration is a frequent pediatric emergency but uncommon in adults.
  • Delayed diagnosis of laryngeal foreign bodies can occur, even in adults.
  • Laryngeal foreign bodies can mimic other respiratory conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To report two unusual cases of missed laryngeal foreign bodies.
  • To highlight the diagnostic challenges in adult laryngeal foreign body cases.
  • To demonstrate the efficacy of endoscopic removal for laryngeal foreign bodies.

Main Methods:

  • Case report of a pediatric patient with a metallic spring foreign body.
  • Case report of an adult patient with a vegetable foreign body.
  • Diagnosis confirmed and foreign bodies removed via direct laryngoscopy under general anesthesia.

Main Results:

  • A 3.5-year-old child with a supraglottic metallic spring was successfully treated.
  • A 32-year-old adult with a spiculated vegetable foreign body was treated after excision of a laryngeal lesion.
  • Both patients remained symptom-free 18 months post-procedure.

Conclusions:

  • Laryngeal foreign bodies, though rare in adults, should be considered in unexplained respiratory or laryngeal symptoms.
  • Endoscopic laryngoscopy is an effective diagnostic and therapeutic tool for laryngeal foreign bodies.
  • Prompt diagnosis and removal are crucial for favorable outcomes in foreign body aspiration.

Keywords:
Laryngeal foreign BodiesUnusual foreign body

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