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Case Reports
. 2024 Sep 9;5(5):e13284.
doi: 10.1002/emp2.13284. eCollection 2024 Oct.

Unusual foreign body aspiration in a 4-year-old patient

Florian Merkle  1 , Travis D Olives  1   2   3 , Svatava Merkle  4 , Adam Rieves  1   3
Affiliations
Case Reports

Unusual foreign body aspiration in a 4-year-old patient

Florian Merkle et al. J Am Coll Emerg Physicians Open. .

Abstract

We present a case of a 4-year-old male child presenting with sudden onset of respiratory distress after aspirating a thumbtack. Prompt diagnostic evaluation with x-ray confirmed the presence of a radiodense foreign body at the level of the epiglottis, and the full size of the object was not clear on imaging. Visualization and retrieval of the object using video laryngoscopy resulted in a favorable outcome. This case underscores the unique anatomy of pediatric airways as well as the importance of timely recognition and intervention in cases of foreign body aspiration in pediatric patients to prevent respiratory compromise and ensure optimal clinical outcomes.

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Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
(A and B) Radiograph of the chest and neck; Anterior Posterior and radiograph of the neck lateral with metallic foreign body at the level of the vocal cords.
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Anatomic position of the pushpin in the airway. Created with BioRender.com.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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