A forgotten gauze pack in the nasopharynx: an unfortunate complication of adenotonsillectomy

Abstract 

A case of a foreign body lodged in the nasopharynx for a long time as a complication of adenotonsillectomy is presented. The patient was an 11-year-old boy admitted with nasal obstruction and bilateral foul-smelling purulent rhinorrhea. The diagnosis was confirmed with nasal endoscopy. Immediate removal of foreign body in the nasopharynx was performed under general anesthesia. Although foreign bodies lodged into the nasopharynx are rare, they may cause serious and even fatal complications. A high index of suspicion, particularly for persistent symptoms, is essential and necessitates further investigation before diagnosis of a case of rhinosinusitis or empirically prescribing antibiotics.