Efficacy and safety of the “mother’s kiss” technique: a systematic review of case reports and case series

Abstract

Background: Foreign bodies lodged in the nasal cavity are a common problem in children, and their removal can be challenging. The published studies relating to the "mother's kiss" all take the form of case reports and case series. We sought to assess the efficacy and safety of this technique. Methods:We performed a comprehensive search of the Cochrane library, MEDLINE, CINAHL, Embase, AMED Complementary and Allied Medicine and the British Nursing Index for relevant articles. We restricted the results to only those studies involving humans. In addition, we checked the references of relevant studies to identify further possibly relevant studies. We also checked current controlled trials registers and the World Health Organization search portal. Our primary outcome measures were the successful extraction of the foreign object from the nasal cavity and any reported adverse effects. We assessed the included studies for factors that might predict the chance of success of the technique. We assessed the validity of each study using the Newcastle-Ottawa scale.Results: Eight relevant published articles met our inclusion criteria. The overall success rate for all of the case series was 59.9% (91/152). No adverse effects were reported.Interpretation: Evidence from case reports and case series suggests that the mother's kiss technique is a useful and safe first-line option for the removal of foreign bodies from the nasal cavities of children. AbstractResearch CMAJ, November 20, 2012, 184(17) E905

Continuous negative airway pressure “CNAP”: Novel nasal foreign body removal

“…It has a 40% failure rate, with many children eventually being admitted to the emergency department. 5,6 Techniques employed in the emergency department include the use of positive-pressure techniques (via the kissing technique, an Ambu bag, or nasally applied pressure through a catheter or oxygen source), and washing out with nasally applied saline. Direct mechanical extraction is possible with alligator forceps, hooks, or balloon-tipped catheters.…”

Intraoperative Neuromonitoring Alerts That Reverse With Intervention

“…In the case of RSCs, those correlated contexts to EP loss that most suggest strength of association, temporality, and biological plausibility are held as causative suspects (of impending and predictable clinical deficit). The case has been made that such "high rate of change" events do not require randomized control trials (Cook et al, 2012;Glasziou et al, 2007). For example, a toddler's draining/obstructed nasal passage (sudden EP loss after scoliosis correction) is relieved by the mother puffing air through the child's mouth while occluding the open nasal passage (release of deformity correction).…”

Removal of ENT foreign bodies in children

“…Another non‐invasive option for nasal foreign bodies is the ‘mother's kiss’ technique, which requires the assistance of a trusted adult caregiver. It is a useful and safe first‐line technique, however, is more than simply blowing into the child's mouth:

“While occluding the unaffected nostril with a finger, the adult then blows until they feel the resistance caused by closure of the child's glottis, at which point the adult gives a sharp exhalation to deliver a short puff of air into the child's mouth. This puff of air passes through the nasopharynx, out through the unoccluded nostril and, if successful, results in the expulsion of the foreign body.

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“…This puff of air passes through the nasopharynx, out through the unoccluded nostril and, if successful, results in the expulsion of the foreign body. ”…”