Pattern of Foreign Bodies in the Throat

Abstract

A retrospective study from January, 2001to January 2011 of  345 patients with a diagnosis of foreign body (FB) in the throat were carried out at the department of ear, nose and throat (ENT), Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Kumasi, Ghana.  Therapeutic oesophagoscopy, direct pharyngoscopy under general anaesthesia and direct laryngoscopy were done on 210, 181 and 15 cases respectively.  Six cases which developed complications were transferred to the cardiothoracic centre at Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra.  Mortality rate was also low 0.7%).  Early assessment and therapy of the disorder is imperative in order to prevent the loss of life.