Nasal Foreign Body, Dislodged and Lost – Can the Adenoids Help?

Abstract

Foreign body in the nasal cavity is one of the most common paediatric otolaryngology emergencies and needs to be promptly addressed. The incidence of nasal foreign body getting dislodged secondary to unsuccessful attempts to take it out is quite high and can be potentially dangerous as it might cause fatal airway compromise. The chances of it getting impacted and retained in the nasopharynx are practical, although such cases are seldom encountered for primarily nasal foreign bodies. Nevertheless, the nasopharynx should always be looked for as a site of impaction of hidden foreign objects. Presence of enlarged adenoids could be of help as it may prevent accidental lodgement of displaced foreign body in the airway, but might also result in difficulty in locating and retrieving the foreign body because it acts as an anchor-pad with its grooves and crevasses. This report presents a rare, interesting case of a child with enlarged adenoids anchoring a metallic ring and describes the clinical presentations and relevant management of a nasal foreign body dislodged and lost in the nasopharynx.

Keywords

• inhaled
• metallic ring
• nasopharynx
• otolaryngology