Removal of Fish Bones Embedded in the Hypopharynx Using a Novel Snare Device

Fish bones can become embedded in the throat tissues while eating and are a common emergency department (ED) symptom. They can be difficult to visualize and remove, depending on location and proximity to the glottis. We present 3 cases of fish bone removal from the pharyngeal mucosa of adult patients using a novel, simple snare device that can be assembled using widely available ED supplies.

All cases failed conventional removal techniques by emergency physicians and otolaryngologists and were destined for the operating room for removal. In all cases, removal was successful using this improvised device, avoiding otolaryngology consultation and the potential need for operating room removal.

This simple device should be considered for foreign body removal from the hypopharynx. © 2025 Elsevier Inc. All rights are reserved, including those for text and data mining, AI training, and similar technologies.