ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Patients with ORL lesions sometimes present to the general emergency room. This study reviews the common ENT admissions via emergency room in a sub-urban town in Nigeria. METHODS: A retrospective study spanning five years from January 2009 to December 2013. RESULTS: A total of 211 cases consisting of 131 (62.1%) males with male: female ratio 1.6: 1 and a mean age of 32.8 ± 22.4 years. About a quarter of the patients were children, the peak age was 21-40 years (in 37%). The common indications for emergency otorhinolaryngological admissions were Epistaxis (16.1%), Nasal/facial trauma (14.7%), pharyngo-esophageal foreign bodies (13.3%) and upper airway obstruction (8.1%). Majority 16 (57.1%) of the Pharyngo-esophageal FBs occurred in children. Most of the airway obstructions in children were due to juvenile recurrent respiratory papillomatosis while laryngeal cancer was the major cause among the adult. Sixty percent had surgical procedures, 86.7% had satisfactory outcome and mortalities were recorded in 1.4%. CONCLUSION: Majority of causes for ORL admissions via emergency unit are of pharyngo-esophageal origin. There is apparent reversal of the otological origin trend in ENT admissions via A&E unit.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: This study reports two cases of undeclared and unusual foreign body (FB) impaction in the ears of Nigerian adult patients that were accidentally discovered and successfully managed. AIM: The report aims to create awareness, and encourage Otorhinolaryngologist to have proper otoscopy done for all patients with suspected ear FB and double check again following FBs removal. CONCLUSION It has recommended a need for an increased public enlightenment to raise awareness about the danger of cleaning the ears with cotton swab or other sharp materials.
