Nasal wash technique for nasal foreign body removal

Abstract

Nasal foreign bodies are seen commonly both in the office and pediatric emergency department setting. There have been a number of strategies described for their removal. We describe the "nasal wash" as a technique for nasal foreign body removal in the following three case reports. The "nasal wash" has been used in many pediatric vaccine studies as a method to collect mucus and relies on simple equipment readily available in the office setting.

20 ways of removing a nasal foreign body in the emergency department

“…Good for: Friable foreign body Note: Potential reflux of saline and/or nasal contents into the eustachian tubes and potential aspiration of the foreign body [5]. However, no known adverse event has been reported by investigators who have regularly performed this technique to obtain nasal specimens for research studies [5].…”

“…However, no known adverse event has been reported by investigators who have regularly performed this technique to obtain nasal specimens for research studies [5].…”

Ear and Nose Foreign Bodies

“…Lichenstein et al 15 described 3 patients in whom the nasal wash technique was used successfully. They recommend filling a bulb syringe with approximately 7 milliliters of sterile normal saline and placing it in the contralateral nostril.…”

“…There were no complications in any of the patients. 15 This method has many disadvantages. Forcibly irrigating saline through the nose is uncomfortable and carries a significant risk of aspiration.…”

New technique for removing nasal foreign bodies in children

“…Removal by non‐invasive methods avoids the need for an invasive approach involving instrumentation, which is distressing for both child and parent, and has a significant risk of complication (mucosal laceration, pain, epistaxis, aspiration) 1,2 . Other attempts at non‐invasive techniques have so far been largely unsuccessful 1,3 …”