Aspiration of a drug in a blister pack

Abstract

We report a rare case of aspiration of a drug in a press‐through package (PTP) treated by not just pulling it but using a unique technique. A 73‐year‐old woman was referred to our department because of a persistent cough resulting from aspiration of a PTP. Flexible bronchoscopy identified the PTP in the trachea immediately above the carina. Just pulling the centre of the PTP edge with biopsy forceps could not move it, and we then rotated it by pulling the corner of the PTP edge to directly below the vocal cord. Passing over the vocal cord was difficult, which made us remove the bronchoscope and urge the patient to cough. These rotation techniques and voluntary coughing successfully removed the foreign body. This unique procedure may aid in the removal of a similar foreign body using a flexible bronchoscope forceps with insufficient grasping force.

Keywords

• Airway foreign body
• blister pack
• flexible bronchoscopy
• press‐though package