The maleficent nut in bronchus - Elusive foreign body retrieved with flexible bronchoscopy using cryoprobe and forceps

Abstract

Foreign body aspiration (FBA) is relatively rare in adults. In non life threatening aspiration, patients seldom recall the history of aspiration and the clinical presentation is mostly subtle and inconsistent. Chest Xray directly identify foreign body in only a minority of patients. CT chest has better resolution in detection but it does entail limitations. Though rigid bronchoscopy remains the gold standard for retrieval of FB especially in children, now with new dedicated instruments Flexible bronchoscopy has become the most commonly used diagnostic and therapeutic modality in majority of patients. Herein, we describe a patient with a smooth, spherical FB impacted in a segmental bronchus retrieved with substantial difficulty using cryoprobe and forceps.

Keywords

• foreign body
• patient
• flexible
• bronchoscopy
• aspiration