Removal of a foreign body from the nasal cavity

It is not uncommon for otolaryngologists to encounter such a problem in their practice as the ingress of foreign bodies into the nasal cavity. Patients come to the hospital with the first signs, namely with severe pain and nasal congestion. Therefore, the doctor must immediately take measures to remove the foreign body. The removal technique depends on the shape, volume and location of the object.

Causes of foreign bodies in the nasal cavity

As a rule, foreign bodies are foreign bodies that, for some reason, made their way into the nasal cavity. Most often these are beads, berry seeds, seeds, small parts from toys, cotton wool, plastic and much more. There are also cases when living beings enter the nasal cavity, mainly small insects (mosquitoes, flies, midges, and so on).

In rare cases, this problem may not give itself away, that is, the symptoms are completely absent, but more often a person has unpleasant and painful sensations, nasal congestion and the discharge of various consistency from the nasal passage.

Before proceeding with the very removal of a foreign body from the nasal cavity, it is necessary to undergo an appropriate diagnosis, which will indicate the exact location and volume of the object.

Most often, such problems are faced by small children who put objects into the nasal cavity purposefully. In such cases, a foreign body enters the lower nasal passage. This is almost 85% of cases. There are situations that are more complicated, for example, one end of a foreign body has wedged into the nasal septum, and the other end into the lower nasal concha.

If a foreign body has entered the nasal cavity, then its localization may be different.

It is not uncommon for foreign bodies to enter the nasal cavity on their own in a natural way. It can come from the environment, from the pharynx (choanal opening), or through the nostrils.

When an object enters through the nostrils, it is solely the fault of the person. As a rule, this occurs in children when they deliberately put various objects up their noses. Accidentally, only a living organism that flies in the air or lives in water bodies can get into the nasal passage.

In medical practice, there is still such a thing as the ingestion of foreign bodies of an iatrogenic nature. This is when a tampon remained in the nasal passage during the operation, a piece of the instrument was broken off, with the help of which otolaryngological manipulation or operation was performed, for example, in the process of septoplasty, correction of connective tissue cartilage and bone adhesions, resection of the nasal concha or removal of tumor processes in the nasal cavity, and many others .

Often, the appearance of a foreign body in the nose is caused by choking while eating or vomiting. In this case, pieces of undigested food and other objects that are in the oral cavity are thrown into the nose during severe choking. This occurs through the choanal openings that connect the nose and pharynx.

Also, a foreign body may appear due to injured nasal walls or other structures that are adjacent to it.

It is the reason that determines the method of removal from the nasal cavity, it can be:

• blowing;
• endoscopic removal;
• surgical intervention.

How to prepare for the removal of a foreign body from the nasal cavity

There is no special preparation for this procedure. It is very important that the specialist conduct a complete diagnosis and establish the cause of the appearance of a foreign object in the nasal cavity.

First, the doctor needs to talk with the patient and find out all the circumstances. Then carry out an endoscopic diagnostic technique. If there are serious indications, then the doctor prescribes an X-ray examination.

Contrasting foreign bodies are diagnosed using radiography. If the doctor has suspicions that the body is of organic origin, then an additional diagnosis is prescribed using a contrast agent.

X-ray examination allows you to determine not only the location of the object, but also its size and shape.

In children, diagnosis is a little more difficult, since there is no anamnestic data at all, because objects enter the nasal cavity in the absence of parents. If suddenly this happened, then the children try in every possible way to hide it in order to avoid serious punishment, but in fact, such an action only aggravates the situation and can result in serious complications.

If a child has purulent processes in the nasal cavity for a long time, then this may be a sign that a foreign object is present in the nasal passage.

Before removal, it is imperative to undergo rhinoscopy of the posterior and anterior walls, and fibroendoscopy, if there is a suspicion that a foreign object is located in the posterior part of the nose. These procedures are done only after the entire nasal cavity is anemized with an adrenaline solution. This solution reduces swelling of the nasal cavity.

If doctors cannot find out the exact location, size and shape of the object in any way, then the nasal cavity is probed using a bellied probe. The procedure is done only under local anesthesia.

All these diagnostic methods are necessary in order to find out exactly where the object is located, what shapes and sizes it has. Only after that the doctor will be able to decide on the method of removing the foreign body from the nasal cavity.

How to remove foreign bodies from the nasal cavity

The first step is to blow your nose well. This is especially true in situations where small objects enter the nasal passage. It is better to blow your nose after using medicinal drops with a vasoconstrictive effect.

If nothing worked out in this way, then removal is carried out using special tools, namely, a tight hook. It is inserted carefully so that it is behind a foreign object, and the object is pulled out with slow movements. Everything must be done so carefully so as not to damage the nasal mucosa. Otherwise, an inflammatory process may begin.

If the situation is severe enough, then the removal of the object with a hook is carried out under local anesthesia.

It is strictly forbidden to pull an object out of the nose with forceps or tweezers, especially for round and oval things.