Case report – An iatrogenic foreign body in the airway

Abstract

We report a case of an iatrogenic foreign body in the airway. An 80-year-old patient who had undergone major head and neck surgery several weeks early presented as an inpatient with a persistent cough and recurrent chest infections. Fibreoptic nasendoscopy revealed the presence of a nasopharyngeal airway sitting vertically in the airway. This foreign body presented indolently as it was cannulated. We suggest that in such patients, readers should be aware of this possible underlying iatrogenic cause of respiratory complications.