INTRODUCTION: In the normal population, inadvertently swallowed foreign objects enter the gastrointestinal tract more frequently than the tracheobronchial tree. There is a typical patient population that is at higher risk for aspiration. DISCUSSION: Sequelae may range from relatively benign partial obstruction to the immediately life-threatening total airway obstruction. Foreign objects lodged in the upper aspect of the trachea may be retrieved with simple instrumentation. CONCLUSION: Some cases may complicate and may require direct access through a tracheotomy, as the case shown in this paper.
INTRODUCTION: In the normal population, inadvertently swallowed foreign objects enter the gastrointestinal tract more frequently than the tracheobronchial tree. There is a typical patient population that is at higher risk for aspiration. DISCUSSION: Sequelae may range from relatively benign partial obstruction to the immediately life-threatening total airway obstruction. Foreign objects lodged in the upper aspect of the trachea may be retrieved with simple instrumentation. CONCLUSION: Some cases may complicate and may require direct access through a tracheotomy, as the case shown in this paper.
Authors: Paul De Leyn; Lieven Bedert; Marion Delcroix; Pieter Depuydt; Geert Lauwers; Youri Sokolov; Alain Van Meerhaeghe; Paul Van Schil Journal: Eur J Cardiothorac Surg Date: 2007-06-27 Impact factor: 4.191