Nasopharyngeal airway aspiration: An uncommon cause of sudden respiratory distress in hospitalized patients

Abstract

An elderly, bed ridden patient with a history of stroke was admitted for management of aspiration pneumonia. Two days after insertion of a nasopharyngeal airway, sudden respiratory distress prompted further investigations which led to the eventual diagnosis and removal of the nasopharyngeal airway that had been aspirated. The device was removed under conscious sedation with fiber optic bronchoscopy. Keywords: Nasopharyngeal airway, Aspiration, Respiratory distress, X-ray