Zeba Ahmed, Salman Matiullah, Danishur Rahim, Muhammad Saleem Marfani.
Foreign bodies of ear in children presenting at Civil Hospital Karachi.
Pak J Otolaryngol Jan ;24(2):12-4.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the patient management factors and patient outcomes in pediatric patients of foreign bodies in ear. PATIENTS & METHODS: This descriptive study was performed in ENT department, Dow Medical College and Civil Hospital Karachi from August 2006 to July 2007. 260 cases of foreign bodies in ear were included, up to 12 years of age. Personal data, clinical features, investigations, management details and complications were recorded on a per-designed proforma. In majority of cases foreign bodies were removed by permeatal approach through suction, syringing, use of forceps and foreign body hook. Postaural approach was used in 2 cases. RESULTS: Among 260 cases of foreign bodies in ear 48.6% were between 4 to 8 years, with male preponderance i.e. 62.69%. Unilateral and bilateral presentations were seen in 96.53% and 3.4% cases respectively. Most common foreign body types were plastic beads and pearls that were seen in 29.2% cases. General anaesthesia had high success rate but attempts under d irect visualization without anaesthesia had lower success rate (25.6%). CONCLUSION: Round shape foreign bodies and younger children are associated with poor outcomes with removal attempts made under direct visualization. These cases should be referred directly to otolaryngologists for removal under general anaesthesia.

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