Nasal Foreign Body

Foreign Bodies in Kids

EMKF

  • If there is an insect in the external auditory canal, kill it first. They will fight for their lives if you try to dismember or take them out.  “In the heat of battle, the patient can become terrorized by the noise and pain and the instrument that you are using is likely to damage the ear canal.”
  • Vegetable matter in the ear? Don’t irrigate it – the organic material will swell against the fixed structure, and cause more pain, make it much harder to extract, and may increase the risk of infection.
  • Beware of unilateral nasal discharge in a child – strongly consider retained foreign body
  • Children 1 year and up, conscious – Heimlich maneuver: stand behind patient with arms positioned under the patient’s axilla and encircling the chest. The thumb side of one fist should be placed on the abdomen below the xiphoid process. The other hand should be placed over the fist, and 5 upward-inward thrusts should be performed. This maneuver should be repeated if the airway remains obstructed.

 

HEENT emergencies

EMKF

HEENT Emergencies

A great summary of HEENT emergencies (Facial and Scalp Lacerations, Mandibular Dislocations, Auricular Lacerations, Auricular Foreign Bodies, Eyelid Lacerations, Epistaxis, Nasal Bridge Fracture Reduction, Nasal Septum Haematoma, Nasal Foreign Body, Peritonsillar Abscess

 

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Nasal foreign bodies in kids…just give them a kiss

EMKF

A non-invasive option for nasal foreign bodies is the ‘mother’s kiss’ technique, which requires the assistance of a trusted adult caregiver.

“While occluding the unaffected nostril with a finger, the adult then blows until they feel the resistance caused by closure of the child’s glottis, at which point the adult gives a sharp exhalation to deliver a short puff of air into the child’s mouth. This puff of air passes through the nasopharynx, out through the unoccluded nostril and, if successful, results in the expulsion of the foreign body.”