Distal airway foreign bodies: Importance of a stepwise approach, knowledge of equipment and utilization of other services’ expertise

Abstract

Many distal airway foreign bodies present as obstructive atelectasis and may be removed using instruments passed through rigid bronchoscopes. Deeply impacted distal foreign bodies remain problematic and sometimes require thoracotomy. The purpose of this paper is to discuss alternate approaches to avoid open surgical removal. A clinical algorithm is outlined. A young child presented to the hospital with an episode of coughing and oxygen desaturation. A chest radiograph demonstrated a radiopaque foreign body in the right upper lobe with distal atelectasis. The foreign body could not be found using rigid bronchoscopy so a flexible bronchoscope (3.5 mm) was used to identify the distal primary tooth that was lodged in the inflamed tertiary segment of the bronchus. The tooth could not be removed using instruments passed through the sideport of the bronchoscope including balloon catheters, ureteral baskets, and biopsy forceps. The catheters were too compliant to reach the upper lobe and the forceps could not engage the tooth. A decision was made to treat the child with steroids and attempt removal 48 h later. The inflammation had resolved and the tooth had shifted positions to a more accessible left lower lobe tertiary segment. Using fluoroscopy with guide wires through the endotracheal tube, the tooth was removed. Tools used by different services are available as well to retrieve foreign bodies and may obviate the need for thoracotomy. Steroids decreased swelling allowing better access to the foreign body.