criteria for referral

Last reviewed 01/2018

• any young child with a nasal FB should be refered to an expert if (1):
  the foreign body is not easy to hook out or grasp
  • when the foreign body cannot be removed
  • when it cannot be adequately visualized
  • when a tumor or mass is suspected
  • when the patient may require sedation/a general anaesthetic to undergo the procedure
• a child should not suffer the trauma of repeated attempts to remove an FB
• encourage the parents to request a general anaesthetic if the procedure is proving difficult.

Refernce:

• (1) Heim SW et al. Foreign bodies in the ear, nose, and throat, Am Fam Physician 2007;76:1185-9.