Question

A 16-month-old female patient is seen with her father by an ENT specialist. The father reports that she has a cold and runny nose. The nasal discharge is yellow and purulent. Although the patient was uncooperative during the exam, the physician was able to visualize a foreign object wedged between the superior and middle turbinates in her left nostril. He calls a surgery center to schedule removal of the object the next afternoon.

Why can’t the object be removed in the doctor’s office?

Answer 1

Answer: The doctor can not perform the surgery or remove the object as the foreign object was observed struck between the superior and middle turbinates in left nostril. These are lined by the nerves responsible for the smell interpretation. Any harm to these nerve endings may result in to problem. Hence the surgeon can easily perform the procedure to remove the object.