Abstract

Background: A foreign body is an endogenous or exogenous substance incompatible with the anatomy of the part of body where it is found. In small children the habit of eating while playing can cause the inhalation of foreign body. Accidental ingestion or aspiration tends to be twice as common in boys¹. Highest incidence is in 1-3 years old (25% less than 1 year) and one of the third leading cause of death worldwide in that age group.²

Material and Methods: The material is chiefly those patients with foreign body in aerodigestive tract attending ENT OPD/IPD in SMS hospital. Total 60 cases attending opd during June 201 to December 2019 were reviewed. Hematological and radiological investigations conducted on 60 patients. Foreign bodies retrived from aerodigestive tract under general aneasthesia.

Result: Most common age group was 0-10 year, in which <4 years age group most affected. Male to female ratio was 2.3:1.  Most common site of foreign body impaction was right main bronchus in airway and cricopharynx in digestive tract. Vegetative foreign bodies more common in airway whereas non vegetative foreign bodies more common in digestive tract.

Conclusion: Meticulous history and through examination are the key factor for the management. All the impacted foreign bodies should be removed via endoscopy, no foreign body should be left alone that it will come out spontaneously.

Keywords: Foreign bodies, Aerodigestive tract, radiology, endoscopy.