In the human body, each organ performs a very important function necessary for the successful course of the life process. The throat is not an exception, in which foreign objects, which cause a lot of inconvenience, can sometimes get stuck.
In this article you will learn how to understand what a foreign body is in the throat, as well as what are the causes of this phenomenon, what first aid is given to a person, and how further treatment is carried out. Carefully read the information provided in order to protect yourself and arm yourself as much as possible.
What is a throat?
Before examining a foreign body in the throat, you need to understand what constitutes a named organ, and what functions it performs.
The pharynx is an integral element of two body systems at once, namely: digestive and respiratory. We inhale the air through the nose, and then it passes through the throat and into the lungs. Thus, the pharynx serves as a guiding channel for oxygen. It also promotes the movement of food from the oral cavity into the esophagus.
However, this is far from all the functions that the described organ performs. For example, the pharynx is directly involved in the formation of sounds. Many people think that this organ is motionless. However, in fact, it is able to stretch and increase in size, and due to this, the timbre of the sound changes. By the way, that’s why every person’s voice has a special sound.
In addition, the throat is assigned a protective function. On its back surface there is a mucous membrane covered with cilia capable of retaining foreign bacteria, as well as dust particles. If a large number of foreign elements accumulate on these cilia, a person really wants to cough, because this is the only way unnecessary substances can leave your body.
Problem Location
Doctors classify the problem depending on which section of the described organ a foreign object is stuck. That is, the localization of foreign bodies is defined as follows:
- Lower. In this case, foreign bodies in the throat are located in its lower part.
- Medium. In this case, the location falls on the oropharynx.
- Top. Foreign bodies appear directly in the nasopharynx.
What can trigger the ingress of foreign substances?
Most often, the foreign body of the pharynx occurs precisely in the larynx and oropharynx. But foreign bodies are extremely rare in the nasopharynx, since only paralysis of the soft palate, which can occur in the presence of serious brain disorders, can contribute to this.
Consider what can lead to unnecessary objects getting into the throat:
- Extreme carelessness of people. This is especially true for children and those who like to hold foreign objects in their mouths (for example, bite a toothpick). A person can simply forget about their presence, and they will go straight to the throat, where they get stuck.
- A foreign body can be in the throat if you do not chew food thoroughly while swallowing it in large pieces. There is a possibility that food may be stuck in the pharyngeal pockets.
- Also, a problem may arise if you talk or laugh while eating. It is possible that this phenomenon can occur in adolescents and children who like to indulge during the food absorption procedure.
- The cause of a foreign body in the throat may be an attempt to cough or sneeze directly during meals.
- This condition can occur if food is not properly processed. For example, in the presence of small seeds, any solid elements that have fallen into food (egg shells, nuts, and so on).
- Also, the cause of a foreign body sensation in the throat is the absence of all teeth, or the incorrect installation of dentures. This contributes to the fact that a person is not able to chew food normally and is forced to swallow in large pieces.
What items can get stuck in the throat?
According to doctors, there are many different objects and substances that can get stuck in the throat. Consider the most common of them:
- small metal and plastic parts (it can be coins, parts of toys, and much more);
- slices of vegetables, fruits or hard meat;
- small bones from meat or fish;
- grains or peas;
- sometimes a foreign body may be a denture;
- in very rare cases, living organisms such as roundworms can be foreign bodies.
Based on the size of the foreign body, it can get stuck in various parts of the named organ. Some items remain at the top, while others may fall below.
Remember, the pharynx has such an anatomical structure that some of its sections may simply not pass on foreign objects.
Anatomical departments
A foreign body in the throat in the ICD-10 is designated as T17. Consider what the structure of this organ looks like, that it is able not to pass foreign bodies further into the body:
- Tonsils in the sky. These parts of the larynx have a loose structure that forms folds. It is in these folds that foreign objects can get stuck.
- The lateral throat rollers, as well as the palatine arches , can also be included in the dangerous process of jamming of foreign objects.
- There is a department called pear sinuses. There are special pockets where foreign objects or some solid particles of food can get into.
- The bottleneck is the transition between the larynx and pharynx. Large pieces of food or other items may simply not go through this place.
Foreign body in the throat: symptoms
Depending on the stuck item, as well as the location of its jam, the patient may experience various symptoms, among which the following are most often encountered:
- There is a lump in the throat.
- The sensation of a foreign body in the throat can also be accompanied by severe painful syndromes, which will be further enhanced directly during the act of swallowing food.
- Also, patients will feel that they are short of air. Sometimes the appearance of a foreign body can lead to suffocation.
- Since the nerve endings are now very irritated and inflamed, an excessively large amount of saliva may be released from the patient.
- In the presence of an object directly in the pharynx, in a place called a pear-shaped sinus, a phenomenon such as salivary lake occurs, which appears as a result of the fact that saliva begins to linger.
Please note that if a foreign object is in the throat for a long time period, then this will lead to the development of inflammatory and purulent processes, which will not be so easy to get rid of.
How are foreign bodies diagnosed?
Foreign body in the throat (according to ICD-10 it has the code T17), it is very important to identify and diagnose the presence of a stuck object in a timely manner. To do this, seek medical attention in a timely manner. If a person, having come to the hospital, can swallow and talk, then the doctor will ask him about how exactly the foreign body got into the throat. But in order to understand the exact location of the foreign body, as well as to reveal its nature, the doctor will conduct additional diagnostics using special medical devices.
First of all, pharyngoscopy will be performed. Using this procedure, you can determine the location of foreign objects, as well as their nature. If foreign bodies get into the lower part of the pharynx, then the doctor will perform a procedure such as laryngoscopy.
However, there are situations when the doctor simply cannot determine the localization of foreign objects using this method. In this case, the doctor uses the method of finger research, carefully feeling the throat, and finds a foreign object in it. In the most serious cases, the otolaryngologist can send the patient to undergo a procedure such as an x-ray.
First Aid Rules
Please note, in order to eliminate a foreign object from the pharynx, it is better to seek qualified medical help. However, what to do if a person begins to suffocate? In this case, he urgently needs first aid, and this is done immediately, so that the patient simply does not die from shortness of breath. So, consider what needs to be done in order to save the life of the victim.
Hit in the throat of a spherical object
Very often, babies can get stuck in foreign bodies in the throat. First aid should be provided immediately. Immediately lower the child upside down and gently tap with his palm between the shoulder blades. This method works very well if a child has a spherical object stuck in his throat, for example, a pea or a small ball.
Such objects very simply slip into the throat, and also very simply through it and roll back. If such a situation has occurred with an adult, bend it over the chair head down and start slapping it with your palm between the shoulder blades. It is very important to clap with an open hand. Make some slaps. If this does not help, then urgently proceed with another method.
Throat flat object
Flat objects include various coins, plates, and so on. Typically, such things linger in the throat behind the glottis. In this case, the effect of a piggy bank occurs, which does not allow you to get the item back.
In order to provide first aid to the patient, in this case you need to shake the chest very well. This action will allow the stuck item to change its position. To do this, stand behind the injured person and place your palms on his shoulders, while grabbing them tightly. Now abruptly hit the back of the person standing in front of you. Best of all, if it is a man who will provide first aid, as his chest is flatter and harder.
Fish bone jam
If a fish bone is stuck in the mucous membrane of the pharynx, immediately eat a rough crust of bread. If this does not help, start eating ice cream or drinking a cold drink. This will help relieve swelling until an ambulance arrives.
Hospital Activities
We have already said that if the patient can breathe, then do not self-medicate. The extraction of a foreign object must be handled by an experienced specialist. To extract a foreign body from the patient's pharynx, the doctor will perform the following manipulations:
- First of all, the patient will be given local anesthesia. This is usually done using lidocaine, or other anesthetics.
- Then, using a special tweezers or forceps, a foreign object is captured. At this point, the extraction procedure is considered complete.
- However, if inflammatory processes have already begun to form in the throat, then further treatment will be prescribed.
- If pathogenic microorganisms enter the mucous membrane, the use of antibacterial drugs can be prescribed.
- In the most advanced cases, surgery may be necessary. However, such situations are extremely rare.
Preventative measures
Sometimes a foreign object in the throat can lead to really very serious consequences, so experts strongly recommend that you adhere to several rules that can protect against serious danger in the form of suffocation:
- Accustom yourself to eating in a quiet environment. Do not eat on the go or in transport. External stimuli, such as beeps of cars and others, can simply contribute to the fact that not chewed food is pushed immediately into the throat.
- Do not rush while eating, and do not talk or laugh.
- Carefully make sure that the baby does not put foreign objects into the mouth and do not use your oral cavity as a storage for small items.
conclusions
A foreign body of the pharynx (code according to ICD-10, T17) can lead to very serious consequences and even death. Therefore, carefully monitor yourself, as well as your baby. Chew food thoroughly, do not put foreign objects in your mouth, and then you simply will not encounter such a dangerous condition as a foreign body getting stuck in the throat.