Letter to the Editor

A Case of an Unusual Foreign Body of the Tongue

Authors: Tariq Parray, MD, M. Saif Siddiqui, MD, Edwin Abraham, MD, Jesus Apuya, MD, Shailesh Shah, MD

Abstract

To the Editor:


We describe the management of a very unusual case of a 13-year-old girl presenting to the emergency department (ED) for removal of a large metallic globe (approximately 3 inches in diameter) entrapping the tongue (Fig.). The access to the oropharynx was completely blocked by the globe. The globe was stuck to her tongue after she placed her tongue into the hole and apparently sucked in. The small opening at the base of the globe acted as a constricting ring and caused the tongue to swell inside the globe. The removal of the globe was unsuccessfully attempted several times in the ED. The surgeon decided to remove the foreign body (FB) emergently in the operating room because of the concerns of tongue ischemia. The surgical removal presented a dilemma to the anesthesiologist since the access to maintain or secure the airway was restricted and challenging.

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