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Detailed information of LARYNGEAL FOREIGN BODY
LARYNGEAL FOREIGN BODY
DEFINITION:
Lodging of a foreign body into the larynx causing hoarseness,
croupy cough, and, at times, acute airway obstruction.
EPIDEMIOLOGY:
- incidence: ?
- age of onset:
- risk factors:
- hot dogs most common cause of fatal aspiration
PATHOGENESIS:
- acute upper airway obstruction may be due to the foreign
body itself or the severe edema and inflammatory response
produced by the foreign body
- after initial symptoms (i.e., choking) there may be a
symptom-free period of hours -> weeks before the respiratory
manifestations
- (i.e., dysphagia) become apparent
- in history try to identify an acute choking episode followed
by a period of increasing respiratory manifestations
CLINICAL FEATURES:
- hoarseness -> aphonia
- croupy (barking) cough
- dysphagia, dyspnea, hemoptysis, wheezing, chronic cough
- inspiratory stridor +/- respiratory distress
- acute airway obstruction with cyanosis
2. Complications
- failure to thrive
- suppurative perichondritis
INVESTIGATIONS:
- diagnostic and therapeutic
MANAGEMENT:
- Heimlich's Maneuver for acute obstruction
- respiratory support with severe or life-threatening upper
airway obstruction, i.e., intubation, tracheostomy
2. Surgery
- removal by direct laryngoscopy or surgery
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Pediatric Database - LARYNGEAL FOREIGN BODY
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