Abstract
IntroductionA tracheobronchial foreign body is a rarely mentioned cause of massive hemoptysis. Although an aspirated toothpick is a well-known cause of traumatic injury to the respiratory tract, a similar device called a dental floss pick, which is much larger than a toothpick, has never been described as a tracheobronchial foreign body.Case presentationWe report a case of massive hemoptysis in a 32-year-old man due to a dental floss pick in the left main bronchus. Flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy was successful in removing the foreign body.ConclusionTracheobronchial foreign body can be a medical emergency requiring immediate intervention and massive hemoptysis may be the presenting symptom. Flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy is recommended as the first-line treatment modality for tracheobronchial foreign body removal. A dental floss pick may present as a tracheobronchial foreign body and can reside in the airway asymptomatically for many years.
Highlights
A tracheobronchial foreign body is a rarely mentioned cause of massive hemoptysis
Flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy is recommended as the first-line treatment modality for tracheobronchial foreign body removal
Three major etiologies account for 90 percent of cases: bronchiectasis; tuberculosis; and bronchogenic carcinoma [1,2]; a tracheobronchial foreign body is a rare clinical entity leading to massive hemoptysis [3]
Summary
- Tracheobronchial foreign body can be a medical emergency requiring immediate intervention and massive hemoptysis may be the presenting symptom. - Flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy is recommended as the first-line treatment modality for tracheobronchial foreign body removal with success rates of more than 90%. - A dental floss pick may present as a tracheobronchial foreign body and can reside in the airway asymptomatically for many years
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