MIGRATED FOREIGN BODY OF THE UPPER AERODIGESTIVE TRACT REMOVED BY OPEN APPROACH: A CASE SERIES

Abstract

Introduction: Foreign body in the upper aerodigestive tract, although a common, fish bones form 85% of those foreign bodies. Foreign body penetrate the cricopharyngeal and cervical oesophageal mucosa and reside extramurally in the soft tissue of the neck. Migration should be suspected when the foreign body is documented radiographically with negative endoscopy. Complicated cases with migrated foreign bodies in the hypopharynx, cervical or thoracic oesophagus might require open procedures such as lateral pharyngotomy, thoracoscopy and thoracotomy. There are several case reports of migrating foreign bodies managed by the open pharyngotomy approach that have been published but no case series were published till date. 1^st time, we are presenting the case series of migrated foreign bodies in the upper aerodigestive tract were removed by lateral pharyngotomy approach in our institutional experience.

Conclusions: A CT scan of the neck is very helpful in identifying the location of the foreign body. Intraoperative C-arm can also be used for locating the foreign body. Endoscopic examination is usually negative for a migrated foreign body. Hence, an open pharyngotomy approach is mandatory for a safe and effective means of managing migrating foreign bodies and preventing associated complications.