Mini grasping basket forceps for endobronchial foreign body removal in pediatric patients

Appropriate device selection is crucial for endobronchial foreign body removal using a bronchoscope. In pediatric patients, bronchoscopy requires the use of a thin device due to the narrow access to the airway, limiting the range of useful endobronchial devices. We herein review our experience in endobronchial foreign body removal with a focus on the type of bronchoscope and the instruments used in comparison with the literature, and investigate the utility of mini grasping basket forceps (FG-55D, Olympus^® ; and Zero Tip^™ , Airway Retrieval Basket, Boston Scientific).

Between April 2008 and April 2016, foreign bodies were removed from the airway of 12 pediatric patients by bronchoscopy. These cases are reviewed in this study. The clinical presentation, location and characteristics of the foreign bodies, and the type of bronchoscope and instruments used were analyzed.

A consecutive series of 12 pediatric patients was retrospectively reviewed, and the therapeutic characteristics investigated. Nuts were the most frequently observed foreign body. Seven of the 12 pediatric patients required an ultrathin bronchoscope (diameter, 2.8 mm) for foreign body removal. Only one patient required a rigid scope in addition to flexible bronchoscopy. The most frequently used instrument was a mini grasping basket forceps (n = 7; 58%), which was used with a 1.2 mm instrument channel (n = 4; 33%).

The use of a mini grasping basket forceps in combination with an ultrathin flexible bronchoscope was useful for removing smooth, soft materials such as a nuts or beans in pediatric cases.