Abstract
Introduction: Impacted Laryngeal foreign bodies usually present with acute onset of choking, cough, inspiratory stridor, hoarseness, or complete aphonia and asphyxia. Children are particularly at risk due to smaller airway calibers.
Case presentation: A 4-year-old male child presented to the pediatric emergency unit of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital with a 3 days history of accidental ingestion of a metallic foreign body. He developed a dry cough, noisy breathing, difficulty breathing, and a low-pitched voice following the incidence. Upon clinical examination, the child was stridulous with nasal flaring, intercostal and subcostal recessions. A soft tissue X-ray of the neck and chest revealed a radio opaque object in the airway at the level of C4–C6 which is the region of the larynx. A diagnosis of laryngeal foreign body was made. Videolaryngoscopy performed under inhalational anesthesia revealed a yellow metallic rectangular object, oriented sagittally and impacted at the level of the rima glottis. The foreign body was successfully removed using a grasping forceps.
Conclusion: Impacted foreign body in the larynx is a life-threatening emergency condition. A high index of suspicion is needed together with good history and investigations to make a prompt diagnosis.
Keywords
Laryngeal foreign body, Videolaryngoscopy, Tracheostomy, Bronchoscopy