Removal of a dental post from the bronchus by interventional cardiovascular techniques.

Foreign bodies lodged in the bronchial tree are normally retrieved by bronchoscopy, but if this fails then thoracotomy is necessary. The case history is presented of a patient who had inhaled a dental post which could not be retrieved either by flexible or rigid bronchoscopy. Using biplane screening and intravascular retrieval devices introduced via an endotracheal tube, the dental post was removed successfully without the need for thoracotomy.