Flexible bronchoscopy with multiple modalities for foreign body removal in adults

Area of Science:

• Pulmonology
• Gastroenterology
• Medical Devices

Background:

• Foreign body aspiration in the lower airways is uncommon in adults.
• Flexible bronchoscopy offers various modalities for foreign body removal.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the outcomes of flexible bronchoscopy for lower airway foreign body removal in adults.
• To analyze the effectiveness of different flexible bronchoscopy modalities.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective analysis of 94 adult patients undergoing flexible bronchoscopy for lower airway foreign bodies between 2003 and 2014.
• Utilized modalities included forceps, loop, basket, knife, electromagnet, and cryotherapy.
• Clinical presentation, foreign body characteristics, and bronchoscopy applications were analyzed.

Main Results:

• The study included 40 patients with acute aspiration and 54 with chronic aspiration. Teeth and bone were the most common foreign bodies.
• Flexible bronchoscopy successfully removed foreign bodies in 90% of cases (85/94 patients).
• Nine patients required adjuncts like electromagnet or cryotherapy for granulation tissue; eight of nine failed cases proceeded to rigid bronchoscopy.

Conclusions:

• Flexible bronchoscopy with multiple modalities is a highly effective diagnostic and therapeutic tool for adult lower airway foreign bodies.
• The procedure demonstrates a high success rate regardless of acute or chronic aspiration status.
• This technique offers a minimally invasive approach with a favorable outcome for foreign body removal.