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Foreign Body Aspiration Getting Weird: Crack Pipe Aspiration.
Chinthaka P Bulathsinghala1, Palla Rivi De Silva2, Rahul Dadhwal3
1Internal Medicine, University of Incarnate Word School of Osteopathic Medicine, San Antonio, USA.
Cureus
|March 17, 2021
Summary
Crack cocaine users may inhale metallic objects used as screens, leading to serious lung complications. This case report details the successful bronchoscopic removal of an impacted metallic foreign body from a patient
Area of Science:
- Pulmonology
- Toxicology
- Radiology
Background:
- Inhalation of crack cocaine is linked to various pulmonary and systemic issues.
- Less common complications, such as foreign body aspiration, are not widely recognized.
Observation:
- A 42-year-old female presented with cough and signs of respiratory distress.
- Physical examination revealed wheezing and diminished air entry in the left lung base.
- Imaging confirmed an 8 mm radiopaque foreign body in the left lower lobe bronchus.
Findings:
- Bronchoscopy identified a metallic foreign body lodged in the left lower lobe bronchus.
- The foreign body was successfully removed using forceps.
- The patient was diagnosed with a complication of crack cocaine abuse.
Implications:
- This case highlights a rare but potentially emergent complication of crack cocaine abuse.
- Healthcare providers should consider foreign body aspiration in patients with respiratory symptoms and a history of substance abuse.
- Prompt diagnosis and intervention are crucial for managing such complications.