Management of aural foreign body: an evaluative study in 738 consecutive cases.
OBJECTIVE
Foreign body in aural canal is a common ENT (ears, nose, and throat) emergency, although not always managed by an otolaryngologist. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of treatment of this emergent problem by medical personnel other than otolaryngologist.


METHODS
A retrospective study in 738 consecutive cases with an internal control group was carried out at the Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, New Delhi, India, and the Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India, over a period of 2 years each. The methodology of removal and complications were tabulated and statistically analyzed using chi(2).


RESULTS
A complication rate of 77% and general anesthesia (GA) induction for removal in 10% of cases was seen in patients treated by other health care personnel, whereas a minimum complication rate of 19.5% and a GA induction in only 3.5% of cases were recorded in patients managed by otolaryngologist.


CONCLUSIONS
The collected data, when put to statistical examination, clearly indicate that patients manipulated by medical personnel other than ENT surgeon have a much higher chance of complication and GA induction for removal of foreign body. This underlines the importance of strict otolaryngologist management in all cases.
Singh
Gautam Bir
GB
Department of ENT and HNS, Institute of Medical Sciences and Sir Sunderlal Hospital, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India. gbsnit@yahoo.co.in
Sidhu
Trilochan Singh
TS
Sharma
Arun
A
Dhawan
Ruchir
R
Jha
Sandeep K
SK
Singh
Nitasha
N
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004424:Ear Canal; D005260:Female; D005547:Foreign Bodies / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies