Foreign Bodies In Ear, Nose And Throat: Experience From A New Tertiary Care Pediatric Institute In North India

Aim: This retrospective study performed in the department of pediatric otorhinolaryngology in a tertiary care pediatric hospital aims to analyze foreign bodies in terms of type, sight, age and gender distribution, methods of removal, outcomes and complications. Methodology: A retrospective study with the study population consisting of patients aged 18 or less presenting with ENT FB lodgment in the outpatient department (OPD) or in the ENT emergency unit during the 8-year study period (2016 to 2023) was performed. The patients were grouped according to the location of FB into throat FBs (swallowed) aural FBs and nasal FBs. Result: A total of 920 patients with ENT foreign bodies were examined and managed at the pediatric otorhinolaryngology department. The most commonly encountered were Nasal (450 case 48.91%) followed by aural foreign bodies (400 cases-43.4%) and throat foreign bodies (70 cases 7.6%) Conclusion: The management of foreign bodies in the Ear, Nose and Throat in Children should be adapted to the location, nature of foreign body, and child’s age /compliance in order to ensure a safe and gentle removal. Keywords : Foreign body, paediatric otorhinolaryngology