FOREIGN BODY REMOVAL VIA TRACHEOSTOMY. AN UNCOMMON OCCURRENCE

INTRODUCTION Foreign body removal from the air way is a challenging task as it requires the presence of a skilled anesthetist and a competent otorhinolaryngologist1, this task becomes even more challenging when it involves a trauma victim with cervical spine fracture, maxillofacial trauma and emergency tracheostomy already performed. Fraga JC, Pires AF et al and Zur KB, Litman RS documented removal of foreign body via tracheotomy using a fibreoptic bronchoscope in two trauma patients but in both cases it was because endotracheal tube was too small to allow foreign body removal3,6 in addition the cases had serious anesthesia complications. A review of literature did not reveal any significant number of cases of foreign body removal in adult male suffering from cervical spine injury, via tracheostomy, in Pakistan, making it a unique scenario in our region.