Foreign body removal using cryoprobe in a child

Abstract

Foreign body (FB) inhalation is a frequently encountered event in children. The diagnosis is reached by the presence of a clinical history of aspiration and the presence of respiratory symptoms. Management involves confirmation by flexible bronchoscopy, which may be both diagnostic and therapeutic. However, in certain situations including those with large FB, FB embedded in granulation tissue, or FB with very smooth margins, rigid bronchoscopy may be a better substitute. An alternative to rigid bronchoscopy may be the use of cryoprobe. Herein, we describe a child with tracheobronchial FB causing hyperinflated right middle and lower lobes with mild atelectasis. The FB was successfully extracted using a cryoprobe, obviating the need for rigid bronchoscopy.