Biomaterial Database

Mediastinitis and retropharyngeal abscess following delayed diagnosis of glass ingestion. 2006

J Allotey, and H Duncan, and H Williams

Birmingham Children's Hospital, Birmingham, UK. jayallotey@aol.com

Foreign body ingestion is a common occurrence in childhood. We report the outcome of an infant who swallowed a piece of glass. The absence of a foreign body on chest radiograph led to delayed diagnosis and then to the well documented complications of retropharyngeal abscess and mediastinitis. She was admitted to the paediatric intensive care unit a week after her initial presentation, subjected to multiple invasive and non-invasive procedures, and 6 weeks after her initial presentation to the accident and emergency department, was discharged back to her referring hospital having re-established oral feeds.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007223	Infant	A child between 1 and 23 months of age.	Infants
D008480	Mediastinitis	Inflammation of the mediastinum, the area between the pleural sacs.	Mediastinum Inflammation,Inflammation, Mediastinum,Inflammations, Mediastinum,Mediastinitides,Mediastinum Inflammations
D010614	Pharynx	A funnel-shaped fibromuscular tube that conducts food to the ESOPHAGUS, and air to the LARYNX and LUNGS. It is located posterior to the NASAL CAVITY; ORAL CAVITY; and LARYNX, and extends from the SKULL BASE to the inferior border of the CRICOID CARTILAGE anteriorly and to the inferior border of the C6 vertebra posteriorly. It is divided into the NASOPHARYNX; OROPHARYNX; and HYPOPHARYNX (laryngopharynx).	Throat,Pharynxs,Throats
D002177	Candidiasis	Infection with a fungus of the genus CANDIDA. It is usually a superficial infection of the moist areas of the body and is generally caused by CANDIDA ALBICANS. (Dorland, 27th ed)	Candida Infection,Moniliasis,Candida Infections,Candidiases,Infection, Candida,Moniliases
D002939	Ciprofloxacin	A broad-spectrum antimicrobial carboxyfluoroquinoline.	Bay-09867,Ciprinol,Cipro,Ciprofloxacin Hydrochloride,Ciprofloxacin Hydrochloride Anhydrous,Ciprofloxacin Monohydrochloride Monohydrate,Anhydrous, Ciprofloxacin Hydrochloride,Bay 09867,Bay09867,Hydrochloride Anhydrous, Ciprofloxacin,Hydrochloride, Ciprofloxacin,Monohydrate, Ciprofloxacin Monohydrochloride,Monohydrochloride Monohydrate, Ciprofloxacin
D003951	Diagnostic Errors	Incorrect or incomplete diagnoses following clinical or technical diagnostic procedures.	Diagnostic Blind Spots,Errors, Diagnostic,Misdiagnosis,Blind Spot, Diagnostic,Blind Spots, Diagnostic,Diagnostic Blind Spot,Diagnostic Error,Error, Diagnostic,Misdiagnoses
D004927	Escherichia coli Infections	Infections with bacteria of the species ESCHERICHIA COLI.	E coli Infections,E. coli Infection,Infections, E coli,Infections, Escherichia coli,E coli Infection,E. coli Infections,Escherichia coli Infection,Infection, E coli,Infection, E. coli,Infection, Escherichia coli
D005260	Female		Females
D005547	Foreign Bodies	Inanimate objects that become enclosed in the body.	Foreign Objects,Gossypiboma,Retained Surgical Instruments,Retained Surgical Items,Retained Surgical Needle,Retained Surgical Sponge,Retained Surgical Tools,Textiloma,Bodies, Foreign,Body, Foreign,Foreign Body,Foreign Object,Gossypibomas,Object, Foreign,Objects, Foreign,Retained Surgical Instrument,Retained Surgical Item,Retained Surgical Needles,Retained Surgical Sponges,Retained Surgical Tool,Surgical Instrument, Retained,Surgical Instruments, Retained,Surgical Item, Retained,Surgical Items, Retained,Surgical Needle, Retained,Surgical Needles, Retained,Surgical Sponge, Retained,Surgical Sponges, Retained,Surgical Tool, Retained,Surgical Tools, Retained,Textilomas
D005898	Glass	Hard, amorphous, brittle, inorganic, usually transparent, polymerous silicate of basic oxides, usually potassium or sodium. It is used in the form of hard sheets, vessels, tubing, fibers, ceramics, beads, etc.