Abstract:
In developing countries the problem of foreign bodies in Otorhinolaryngology
Services is poorly studied. Intake of a foreign body is relatively common in children, but it can
occur in adults with mental disorders or in inmates. Description: A patient with psychiatric
problems who ingested a metallic object. In the psychiatric evaluation, an anxiety crisis was diagnosed after a family conflict. Extraction with esophagoscopy without complications was
performed. Discussion: Voluntary (intentional) intake of an object commonly occurs in pa-
tients with psychiatric disorders, especially schizophrenia, mental retardation, or in the inmate
population. However, the intake of a large foreign body is linked to a parasuicidal behavior.
Conclusions: The presence of a foreign body should always be suspected in patients with
psychiatric disorders with odynophagia in the absence of pharyngotonsillitis infection.
