Removal of ear, nose and throat foreign bodies: A review

Selected Disorders of the Ear, Nose, and Throat

“…At times, it can be difficult to diagnose as the object placement may not have been observed by the parent or caregiver. Common foreign bodies found in the ear or nose include beads, rubber erasers, toy parts, pebbles, food, marbles, and button batteries [30][31][32].…”

“…A foreign body within the ear is usually lodged at the point where the external auditory canal narrows into a bony cartilaginous junction. If lodged too far, the tympanic membrane can be damaged [30,32].…”

“…When evaluating a patient for a nasal foreign body, it is useful to apply a topical vasoconstriction agent to reduce mucosal edema, such as 0.5% phenylephrine or oxymetazoline [30,32]. Anesthesia may also be accomplished with a topical spray such as 4% lidocaine.…”

“…Removal of a nasal cavity foreign object may be completed by several different techniques. Most commonly, if the object is in the anterior passage, it may be graspable with a forceps, curved hooks, cerumen loops, or suction catheter [32]. A balloon tip catheter may be used by lubricating the balloon tip, passing the tip past the foreign body, inflating, and then pulling forward [31].…”

“…A balloon tip catheter may be used by lubricating the balloon tip, passing the tip past the foreign body, inflating, and then pulling forward [31]. The "parental kiss" is a less invasive option in children in which the parent provides a puff of air through the child's mouth with the unaffected nostril occluded, providing positive pressure to expel the foreign body [30][31][32]. Once the object is removed, it is important to reinspect the nasal cavity for any additional objects or localized trauma.…”