Ear, nose, and throat foreign bodies in adults: A population based study in Taiwan.
BACKGROUND/PURPOSE This study performed a population based analysis in the managements of adult ear, nose, and throat FBs in Taiwan. METHODS The Taiwan Longitudinal Health Insurance Database 2000 were used, which comprises 1,000,000 beneficiaries randomly sampled in 2000 with a follow up period from 2000 to 2013. Patients aged >18 years with ear, nose, or throat FB were identified according to the International Codes of Diseases. RESULTS In total, 94,312 adults with ear (n 21,786) nose (n 1007) throat (n 62,986) airway (n 419) or esophageal (n 8114) FB were identified. Emergency department visits were most common among patients with esophageal or airway FB (33.3% and 25.1% respectively) X rays were most commonly performed for patients with esophageal FB (44.8% and computed tomography (CT) was most commonly used for those with airway FB (4.3% Hospitalization rate was the highest among patients with airway FB (7.4% followed by those with esophageal (3.0% and nose (0.7% FB. Patients with airway FBs corresponded with the highest rate of intensive care unit stay (58.1% longest hospital stay (10.5 days) and highest in hospital mortality rate (25.8% A multiple logistic regression model indicated that old age, medical comorbidities, undergoing CT, and airway or esophageal FB were associated with hospitalization among adults with FB. CONCLUSIONS Disparities were identified in the treatment of ear, nose, and throat FB in adults. This study provides population based data that may serve as a reference for otolaryngologists in clinical FB management.
Journal of the Formosan Medical Association Taiwan yi zhi