1.Retropharyngeal sinus tract secondary to glass shard impaction in an 8 month-old child; endoscopic diagnosis via telescope endoscopy and management of sinus tract by endoscopic electrocauterization.
Angelo Miguel P. Parungao ; Antonio H. Chua
Journal of the Philippine Medical Association 2020;99(1):36-41
OBJECTIVES:
•To present a case of an 8 month-old female
who ingested a foreign body that impacted
itself into the posterior pharyngeal wall
resulting in a retropharyngeal sinus tract
• To discuss the events leading to the
diagnosis of the patient
• To explain the reason behind the difficulty of
locating the foreign body during rigid
esophagoscopy
• To discuss the use of endoscopic
cauterization as management of the
retropharyngeal sinus tract
METHODS:
Design: Case Report
Setting: Tertiary Government Hospital
Patient: One
RESULTS:
An 8 month-old female presented with
repeated bouts of vomiting with associated refusal
to eat. A chest radiograph showed a triangular
radiopaque object at the level of Tl -T2. Emergency
foreign body extraction via rigid esophagoscopy
was done, however, no foreign body was seen in the
esophagus. An intraoperative chest radiograph
showed a foreign body at the previously described
location. On repeat esophagoscopy, a linear wound
with purulent discharge on the posterior pharyngeal
wall was seen. This wound was explored
using a 0° telescope revealing a retropharyngeal
tract measuring 2.4 cm in length. At the end of the retropharyngeal tract, a glass shard was found and
was extracted. This tract was monitored
endoscopically 4, 18, 25, and 32 days postoperative,
respectively for possible spontaneous
closure of the tract. Eventually, after 32 days, noted
to persist hence was debrided and was cauterized
via electrocautery leading to its closure. Postop
monitoring via flexible endoscopy and neck soft
tissue lateral x-ray showed complete closure of the
retropharyngeal sinus tract.
CONCLUSION
An 8 month-old female who ingested a
glass shard was presented. The ingestion of pointed
or sharp objects may be embedded into the
retropharyngeal space and its further advancement
may be caused by shearing forces caused by
repetitive swallowing and vomiting. Immediate
detection of these sharp foreign bodies may prevent
formation of such tracts. Therefore, a high index of
suspicion must be had in cases where foreign
bodies that are not visualized by rigid
esophagoscopy by careful inspection of the
mucosal wall of the pharyngeal area with further
guidance of radiographs. The innovation of
endoscopic electrocautery as management of the
sinus tract, inspired from the management of fourth
branchial cleft sinus tracts, is an effective approach
in management.