Finkelstein D M, Noyek A M, Friedberg J, Goldberg M
Department of Otolaryngology, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
J Otolaryngol. 1989 Jun;18(4):189-92.
Otolaryngologists are well aware of the potentially devastating consequences of inhaling a sharp foreign body. We report here a case of a laryngectomized patient who accidentally inhaled a safety pin through his tracheal stoma under highly unusual circumstances. This proved to be a life-threatening situation which resolved only after a complicated hospital admission culminating in a thoracotomy. We use this case to suggest guidelines that otolaryngologists may wish to discuss with their laryngectomized patients with regard to stomal care.