Foreign body lodged in the subglottic area: a case report in a child

Subglottic foreign bodies are rare and represent an extreme emergency that can threaten life. Our aim is to share our experience in the management and multidisciplinary approach to a subglottic foreign body in a child. We report the case of a 4-year-old child from a rural area, who was admitted as an emergency. He was referred by the pediatric team after presenting with symptoms of foreign body aspiration. The general examination revealed laryngeal dyspnea (stage IV) with unstable hemodynamic parameters. ENT examination showed pharyngeal granulations; near-obstructive hypertrophy of the inferior turbinates, muco-purulent rhinorrhea with pale nasal mucosa; cerumen plugs, and intact tympanic membranes. Pulmonary auscultation noted crackles in both lung fields. We diagnosed a laryngo-tracheal foreign body complicated by stage IV laryngeal dyspnea. The child underwent an emergency tracheostomy followed by endoscopy and removal of the foreign body. The postoperative course was uncomplicated. Although rare, subglottic foreign bodies present a challenge for early management. Therefore, we emphasize to our colleagues the severity of subglottic foreign bodies. Prevention is the best therapeutic alternative.