Biomaterial Database

Case report--an iatrogenic foreign body in the airway. 2008

Vikram Dhar, and Hiba Al-Reefy, and Mike Dilkes

Department of ENT Surgery, St Bartholomews Hospital, West Smithfield, London EC1, London.

We report a case of an iatrogenic foreign body in the airway. An 80-year-old patient who had undergone major head and neck surgery several weeks early presented as an inpatient with a persistent cough and recurrent chest infections. Fibreoptic nasendoscopy revealed the presence of a nasopharyngeal airway sitting vertically in the airway. This foreign body presented indolently as it was cannulated. We suggest that in such patients, readers should be aware of this possible underlying iatrogenic cause of respiratory complications.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007049	Iatrogenic Disease	Any adverse condition in a patient occurring as the result of treatment by a physician, surgeon, or other health professional, especially infections acquired by a patient during the course of treatment.	Hospital-Acquired Condition,Condition, Hospital-Acquired,Conditions, Hospital-Acquired,Disease, Iatrogenic,Diseases, Iatrogenic,Hospital Acquired Condition,Hospital-Acquired Conditions,Iatrogenic Diseases
D007442	Intubation, Intratracheal	A procedure involving placement of a tube into the trachea through the mouth or nose in order to provide a patient with oxygen and anesthesia.	Intubation, Endotracheal,Endotracheal Intubation,Endotracheal Intubations,Intratracheal Intubation,Intratracheal Intubations,Intubations, Endotracheal,Intubations, Intratracheal
D008297	Male		Males
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
D005931	Glottis	The vocal apparatus of the larynx, situated in the middle section of the larynx. Glottis consists of the VOCAL FOLDS and an opening (rima glottidis) between the folds.	Rima Glottidis,Glottidi, Rima,Glottidis, Rima,Rima Glottidi
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000369	Aged, 80 and over	Persons 80 years of age and older.	Oldest Old
D000402	Airway Obstruction	Any hindrance to the passage of air into and out of the lungs.	Choking,Airway Obstructions,Obstruction, Airway,Obstructions, Airway
D020878	Device Removal	Removal of an implanted therapeutic or prosthetic device.	Device Removals,Removal, Device,Removals, Device