c. Treatment. An endoscopist should remove the foreign object with the aid of
an esophagoscope (instrument used to examine the esophagus). Blind probing, in an
effort to dislodge a foreign body, is extremely hazardous. Usually, a foreign body in the
esophagus is NOT an emergency, and a delay for proper medical treatment is not
hazardous to the patient. Evacuate the patient to a medical treatment facility where soft
tissue x-rays of the neck, chest, and ear-nose-throat areas can be obtained.
4-19. CLOSING
The structures of the eyes, ears, nose, and throat are delicate. Loss of such
structures can be detrimental to one's appearance. When treating a trauma patient,
always revert back to your ABCs first. After you are sure you have taken needed initial
lifesaving measures, you can be concerned with more detailed work.
MD0582
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