Endoscopic Removal of Sharp Foreign Bodies in Neck Using Image Intensified Television

Foreign body impaction in the neck poses life-threatening problems when it is deep and close to vital structures. We report two cases of sharp metallic foreign body impaction in the neck – one of them in the prevertebral space and the other in the intervertebral disk space. A neck exploration and surgical removal of these foreign bodies, as is usually practised in most centers, would have been life-threatening and associated with high morbidity. We removed these foreign bodies using rigid endoscope under image intensified television (IITV) guidance. The patients could be discharged the same day. We suggest that endoscopic removal under IITV fluoroscopy system should be the method of choice in the removal of foreign bodies located in these sites. We also propose a classification of neck into vertical segments which would be useful in the management decision of these cases.