"Fishing in the trachea": a unique case of foreign body aspiration.

A 36-year-old white man presented with hemoptysis and hematemesis. The medical history was significant for a bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. He had swallowed 3 fishhooks and aspirated 1 into his lungs. A chest x-ray showed the fishhook in the right main stem bronchus. He underwent a flexible bronchoscopy for removal of the foreign object. The technique of the removal of the fishhook is described. Foreign object aspiration usually occurs in the pediatric or the geriatric population. Aspiration of foreign objects in adults is commonly associated with psychiatric illnesses in patients. After appropriate imaging, bronchoscopy or even cardiothoracic surgery is usually required for removal of the foreign object. Fishhooks may be more difficult to remove.