NOT AN IDEAL WAY OF DISPENSING A TABLET: A COMMON ERROR CAUSING ESOPHAGEAL IMPACTION IN AN ELDERLY PATIENT.
Fatimah Al Zahara JOHAN1, Susalnoor SUHAILEE2, Dewi Norwani BASIR3, Ketan C Pande1,4
1Department of Orthopaedics, 2Department of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, and 3Department of Gastroenterology Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha Hospital, Bandar Seri Begawan
Negara Brunei Darussalam.
4Adjunct Associate Professor, PAPRSB Institute of Health Sciences, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Negara Brunei Darussalam.
ABSTRACT
Accidental foreign body ingestion is a common problem in geriatric population. An elderly patient admitted with fracture of right proximal femur complained of difficulty in swallowing of 2 days duration. OtoRhinoLaryngology and Gastroenterology consultation and investigations confirmed the cause to be due to an impacted Press-through tablet ingested by the patient with its packing. This was successfully removed by rigid endoscopy without any complications. Such errors are common but fortunately seldom lead to complications. They are best remedied by removing all packing before giving tablets to patients during drug dispensing rounds.
Keywords: Dysphagia, Esophagus, Endoscopy, Foreign body, Press-through package.
Correspondence: Dr Ketan C Pande, Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, Department of Orthopaedics, Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha Hospital, Bandar Seri Begawan
Negara Brunei Darussalam.
Email: ketanpande@yahoo.com
Brunei Int Med J.2021;17:65-69