A novel way of removing an endotracheal suction catheter foreign body in a preterm neonate: A case report and review of literature

Abstract

Airway obstruction by foreign bodies (FBs) in preterm neonates is a rare occurrence. Most of these FBs are iatrogenic and related to medical devices used in the neonate. We describe a case of an endotracheal FB resulting from the cut end of an in-line closed suction catheter. The FB caused collapse/consolidation of different lung lobes with changes in its position. It was missed for a long period of about 3 weeks and was removed by applying direct suction through an endotracheal tube. Different innovative devices have been used to retrieve endotracheal FBs in small preterm neonates; however, this method is not reported in literature to our knowledge.