Bronchial entrapment of a chicken bone for 14 years

S W Lee1, T J Fang, C W Hsu

  • 1Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kweishan, Taoyuan, Taiwan.

Insights

A chicken bone was lodged in a patient's airway for 14 years. This rare case emphasizes considering airway foreign bodies in chronic cough diagnoses.

Area of Science:

  • Pulmonology
  • Medical Case Reports

Background:

  • Airway foreign body aspiration is uncommon, especially in adults.
  • Prolonged retention can lead to chronic respiratory symptoms.

Observation:

  • A case of a chicken bone foreign body retained in the right main bronchus for 14 years is presented.
  • The patient suffered from chronic and intractable cough.

Findings:

  • Delayed diagnosis of airway foreign bodies is possible.
  • Skeletal material can remain in the airway for extended periods without complete degradation.

Implications:

  • Airway foreign bodies should be included in the differential diagnosis for chronic cough.
  • Prompt diagnosis and removal of airway foreign bodies are crucial to prevent long-term complications.