Tracheobronchial foreign body management in an acutely ill neonate

Pediatric foreign body management has become refined in recent years, both from a diagnostic and therapeutic standpoint. History, physical examination, and radiographic evaluation performed in a timely manner can lead to safe and successful foreign body retrieval. Advancement in videoendoscopic instrumentation and anesthetic techniques enable the airway surgeon to achieve simultaneous airway stabilization and foreign body removal. In the emergency setting, the surgeon may not have access to such instrumentation. We present a case of an acutely ill, extremely low birthweight infant who incurred foreign body aspiration. Basic tools of expediency and control of the airway remind us once again that technique must precede technology.