Use of flexible bronchoscopy in an adult for removal of an aspirated foreign body at a community hospital

• Main Authors: Vikram Oke, Rakesh Vadde, Prajakta Munigikar, Bikash Bhattarai, Chidozie Agu, Rashawn Basunia, Divya Salhan, Danilo Enriquez, Joseph Quist, Frances Schmidt
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2015-10-01
• Series: Journal of Community Hospital Internal Medicine Perspectives
• Subjects: foreign body aspiration in adults; flexible bronchoscopy; post-obstructive pneumonia
• Online Access: http://www.jchimp.net/index.php/jchimp/article/view/28589/pdf_99
• ISSN: 2000-9666

Foreign body aspiration (FBA) is more common in children than adults with about 80% occurring in children aged less than 15 years. FBA in adults is often overlooked as a potential cause of airway obstruction especially if there is no asphyxiation. We present a case of a 45-year-old male with alcohol abuse who presented with post-obstructive pneumonia secondary to aspiration of tooth of unknown duration. The tooth was removed via flexible bronchoscopy (FBr) and we will discuss the use of FBr for foreign body (FB) removal, which FB can be easily removed by FBr, and the different techniques and devices used for FB removal via FBr.