Laryngoscope Bulb - An Unusual Foreign Body in Nasopharynx

Excerpt

To the Editor: We report a case of a four-year-old boy admitted in pediatric emergency with the diagnosis of tubercular meningitis with raised intracranial tension. He required intubation for low Glasgow coma scale (E2M2V2). During endotracheal intubation, the light source of laryngoscope became nonfunctional. On inspection, the laryngoscope bulb was found to be dislodged. Child was intubated immediately with another laryngoscope. The position of bulb was found to be in nasopharynx on lateral X-ray neck (Fig. 1a). However, on direct laryngoscopy, the bulb could not be located by ENT surgeons. A repeat X-ray showed displacement of the bulb into stomach (Fig. 1b). Gastroenterology opined for a conservative approach. Repeat X-ray after three days depicted displacement of bulb in ileocecal region. Unfortunately, the child expired 5 d later due to primary disease.

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