Foreign Body Removal from Stomach: An Innovative Approach Using C-arm in ENT

Abstract

The ingestion of foreign body is a very common occurrence in pediatric age group. The retrieval is an emergency procedure performed mostly by the Otolaryngologist and Gastroenterologist. We present a case of coin ingestion who reported to a tertiary care center. It was retained in the lower part of esophagus as confirmed by imaging. Subsequently during the rigid esophagoscopy it was found missing from distal esophagus. A 9 year old female child presented with accidental ingestion of coin. The imaging done immediately prior to intervention confirmed position of coin in distal esophagus. However, up on visualization with rigid esophagoscope the coin was not found in esophagus and suspected to have passed in to stomach. We used C-arm to confirm the location which has its own limitations. There have been various case reports of using c-arm for tracing lost needles and broken instruments by oro-maxillo-facial surgeons. There are no reports where it has been used to aid foreign body removal from gastro-intestinal tract. This is first case report where the use has been improvised due to lack of advanced facilities available at better and well equipped centers.The retrieval of foreign body from stomach aided by c-arm has not been reported in literature till now. The case report would add to the knowledge, options and practice at a center which does not have any super speciality facilities.