Bibliographic Study of the Characteristics of the Patients with Strange Bodies in the Otorhinolaryngology’s Service

Introduction: The appointment of urgency/emergency motivated by strange bodies present in nose, eye, and pharynx is common in the otorhinolaryngology's hospital service. In his study about the profile of the appointments, Figueiredo et al estimated that 11% of all appointments in otorhinolaryngology's area are caused due to strange bodies, and that about 20% of these have several complications. Accordingly, the study, diagnosis, and treatment of this problem are extremely important to the medical practices.

Objectives: Bibliographic revision study on the electronic base called Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO) realized with 20 quantitative studies, done between 1993 and 2014, aiming to establish the incidence and prevalence of strange bodies in the otorhinolaryngology's service, to determine the age group that are more common in this kind of accident, besides to establish the amount and characteristics of the complications by the presence of strange bodies.

Data synthesis: The most number of strange bodies was found in ear region, probably because of a bigger exposition of the ear and the difficult of the human body to expulse the object. The second place was in the nasal region and pharynx in the children between 0 and 4 years and adults, respectively. The main objects found were cotton, beans, insects, plastic, and chicken or fish bones. The complications were associated with the doctor's low experience.

Conclusion: Considering the huge number of cases of strange objects in otorhinolaryngology's areas, this study is important to review and to strengthen the importance of good medical capacitance about this subject, avoiding complications.