Removal of an Atypical Foreign Body Using Flexible Bronchoscopy Under Local Anesthesia

Abstract

While uncommon among adults, the act of inhaling a foreign object is a grave incident that might potentially endanger one's life or result in substantial repercussions. A 43-year-old patient with a history of asthma and epilepsy from infancy appeared with worsening respiratory distress and the presence of purulent secretions one week following an epileptic seizure.

The chest X-rays and abdominal ultrasound revealed no anomalies. A bronchoscopy performed with local anesthesia enabled clear vision of the foreign object, and its removal was successfully executed, eliminating the need for a more invasive procedure. Bronchoscopy is crucial for both diagnosis and treatment, particularly in cases where there is a suspicion of inhalation of a foreign object that cannot be seen on X-rays. However, X-rays can still be useful for detecting radiopaque foreign objects or for identifying indirect symptoms of their existence.