The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences College of Dentistry Clinic Operations 2024-2025

8.1.5 - Ingestion of a Foreign Body

Steps to follow when a patient may have aspirated or ingested a foreign body.

Contact Information:
COD Office of Compliance

Ms. Graziano – Office ext.: 13083 or Cell: 405-473-6064 / Room 234 or

Ms. Carter – Office Ext.: 46876 / Room 238

Maintain Confidentiality!

Obstructed airway – Coughing, wheezing, respiratory distress?

  1. Place the patient on their left side, head down, and encourage forceful coughing for several minutes. Delegate to another workforce member to call 911 to speak with EMS. Provider and supervising faculty should not leave the patient alone.
  2. Send someone to meet EMS at the front door to bring them back to the patient's location.
  3. Contact COD Office of Compliance.
  4. Give relevant information regarding the patient to EMS (patient's name, date of birth, significant medical history, etc.).
  5. Once the patient has been transported by EMS, the provider will enter a note in the patient's treatment record.
  6. The provider and witnesses will complete a Clinic Incident Report to deliver to the COD Office of Compliance after the patient has received care.

Airway clear?

  1. Offer the patient radiographs at OU Health Emergency Department (OUHED) at no charge to them.
  2. If the patient accepts, contact the COD Office of Compliance.
  3. The provider should enter the details of the incident in the patient’s treatment record.
  4. The provider completes the Clinic Incident Report to deliver to the COD Office of Compliance.

Patient declines radiographs:

  1. Encourage the patient to have radiographs completed.
  2. Inform the patient of the symptoms to monitor for and when to call 911. Enter this information in the patient’s treatment record (severe coughing, including coughing up blood, wheezing, difficulty breathing, etc.).
  3. The provider enters the details of the incident in the patient’s treatment record.
  4. The provider completes the Clinic Incident Report to deliver to the COD Office of Compliance.
  5. The provider will follow up with the patient by calling them the same evening, the next day, and on the third day to check their status. The provider documents the call(s) in the patient’s treatment record.
  6. The provider notifies the COD Office of Compliance of the patient’s status and any updates.

Patient declines EMSA transport but accepts emergency treatment:

  1. The provider or a staff member will escort the patient to OUHED.
  2. The provider or staff member should take a similar item with them to the OUHED to help identify the object on the radiographs.
  3. If the foreign body is visible on the chest X-ray, an abdominal film is not required.
  4. If the foreign body is not visible on the chest x-ray, an abdominal film is required.
  5. If the abdominal film is negative, ask the patient to monitor feces for several days to ensure the foreign object has passed. It could be a few hours to a few weeks for the item to pass depending upon GI motility.
  6. If the foreign body is not recovered, ask the patient to return in 1-3 weeks for additional abdominal films. Follow step 5 if the result is negative again.
  7. Enter the results of radiographs in the patient’s treatment record.

Additional medical radiographs, testing, or procedures:

  1. Notify the COD Office of Compliance for further instructions.
  2. Notify the patient if additional medical radiographs, testing, or procedures are required.
  3. The COD Office of Compliance will notify the OUHSC Risk Management department.

OU Health Emergency Department
700 NE 13th
Oklahoma City, OK 73104
405-271-3667
Hours: 24/7/365

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