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. 2020 Jul 23;20(1):165.
doi: 10.1186/s12893-020-00825-5.

Application of flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy in the removal of adult airway foreign bodies

Weijun Ma  1 , Juan Hu  1 , Miaoli Yang  1 , Yeye Yang  1 , Min Xu  2
Affiliations

Application of flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy in the removal of adult airway foreign bodies

Weijun Ma et al. BMC Surg. .

Abstract

Background: Flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy is a rapid, cost effective and safe procedure.

Aim: To analyze demographic information and endoscopic findings in adult patients with airway foreign body aspiration and its removal.

Methods: Fifty-seven adults (40 males, 17 females; average age 40 years old) with airway foreign body aspiration were analyzed. Cough (37, 65%) was the most common clinical presentation. The most common foreign body was bone followed by dental prosthesis and food debris.

Results: In the current study, 42 out of the 57 (74%) airway foreign bodies were successfully removed under flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy. However, it was failed in 15 patients and thus, rigid bronchoscopy was used to remove foreign bodies successfully in 13 of the 15 patients. Thoracotomy was performed for the 2 patients whose foreign body removal was unsuccessful even with rigid bronchoscopy.

Conclusion: The findings of the current study revealed that flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy is a safe and effective procedure for the removal of adult airway foreign bodies in the majority of cases. Rigid bronchoscopy can be a backup procedure in case flexible bronchoscopy is failed.

Keywords: Adult; Airway foreign body; Flexible fiberoptic bronchoscope.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Images of aspirated foreign bodies. a & b: Bronchoscopy view of a dental prosthesis in the right middle lobe bronchus. c & d: Bronchoscopy view of part of a dental prosthesis in the right lower lobe bronchus. e & f: Endoscopic image taken during the removal of a metal spring from the right bronchus. g & h: Endoscopic image taken during the removal of a peanut from the left lower lobe bronchus. i & j: Bronchoscopy view of a whole soybean in the right lower lobe bronchus
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Diagrammatic outline of the number of patients treated with flexible or rigid bronchoscopy and thoracotomy
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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