Tracheal foreign body after laser supraglottoplasty: a hidden but risky complication of an aluminum foil tape-wrapped endotracheal tube.

Wrapping of the endotracheal tube with aluminum foil tape can prevent laser-beam-induced ignition of the tube during laryngoplasty. However, this modified endotracheal tube may pose complications. Two newborn infants had a portion of the foil tape trapped in their trachea after extubation from laser supraglottoplasty. One infant was totally asymptomatic. The other infant's symptoms were masked by the concurrent tracheomalacia. Both residual tapes were radiolucent on chest radiographs. Flexible endoscopy was the suitable and safe modality for an accurate diagnosis and immediate retrieval of the residual tapes in one session.