A 70 year-old man, with a 7-year tracheotomy because of a laryngeal tumor, had an accident during daily canulla cleansing procedure, aspirating a piece of the cleaning brush. Chest radiograph showed metallic foreign body at the right inferior bronchus. Rigid bronchoscopy was performed under general anesthesia, with no resistance in passing the tube through the glottis. The foreign body was easily removed and the patient had no complications. After leaving the hospital, the patient was sent to the ENT service where he used to be followed up.

A Otite Externa Aguda é uma doença extremamente comum em países tropicais, especialmente no verão. Vários fatores predisponentes são identificáveis e o quadro clínico pode ser bastante variado, principalmente com relação à intensidade da otalgia. Objetivo: Avaliar, através de um estudo prospectivo no maior hospital de Emergências do Rio de Janeiro, a incidência e as características da otite externa no perí-odo de verão. Forma de estudo: Estudo clínico com coorte transversal. Material e Método: 391 pacientes com otite externa atendidos no Serviço de ORL do Hospital Souza Aguiar foram avaliados em uma série de parâmetros clínicos e de tratamento, incluindo análise de possíveis fatores predisponentes. Resultados: Os principais sintomas referidos foram otalgia, otorréia discreta e plenitude auricular. Os principais fatores predisponentes foram banho de mar e piscina e uso de cotonetes. Conclusão: A otite externa aguda é uma doença extremamente comum em países tropicais, especialmente no verão. A possível contaminação da água de praias e piscinas, embora descartada por vários autores como fatores predisponentes, pode ter alguma influência na sua patogênese. The acute external otitis is a very common disease in tropical countries, especially in summer. There are many predisposing factors and clinical features may vary, particularly the pain s severity. Aim: Evaluate, with a prospective study in Rio de Janeiro s largest Urgencies Hospital, the incidence and characteristics of the acute external otitis in summer. Study design: Clinical study with transversal cohort. Material and Method: 391 patients with acute external otitis in Souza Aguiar Hospital were evaluated in several clinical and treatment parameters, including predisposing factors analysis. Results: Pain, moderate ear discharge and sensation of full ear were the most common complaints. Sea and pool baths and the use of ear sticks were the most common predisposing factors. Conclusion: The acute external otitis is a very common disease in tropical countries, especially in summer. Sea and pools water contamination, although rejected by many authors as a predisposing factor, may have a role the patogenesis of the acute diffuse external otitis.Palavras-chave: otite externa aguda, fatores predisponentes, doenças do verão.

A 70 year-old man, with a 7-year tracheotomy because of a laryngeal tumor, had an accident during daily canulla cleansing procedure, aspirating a piece of the cleaning brush. Chest radiograph showed metallic foreign body at the right inferior bronchus. Rigid bronchoscopy was performed under general anesthesia, with no resistance in passing the tube through the glottis. The foreign body was easily removed and the patient had no complications. After leaving the hospital, the patient was sent to the ENT service where he used to be followed up. Rev Bras Otorrinolaringol. V.71, n.2, 234-6, mar./apr. 2005

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