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A Foreign Body Aspiration Leading to Pneumothorax: A Case of Airway Emergency

Ahmad Kamil Ahmad Fahmi1, Ahmad Firdaus Habib Rahman1, Anas Hadi Hishamuddin1

  • 1Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Taiping Hospital, Taiping, MYS.

Cureus
|April 19, 2024
PubMed

Insights

Foreign body aspiration in children can cause serious breathing issues. This case highlights the successful removal of an aspirated pencil cap from a 10-year-old boy

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Pulmonology
  • Emergency Medicine
  • Medical Imaging

Background:

  • Foreign body aspiration is a significant risk in children, potentially leading to severe airway obstruction.
  • The narrow pediatric tracheobronchial tree predisposes children to foreign body impaction.
  • Anatomical differences, such as the right mainstem's straighter alignment, increase the likelihood of right bronchial tree foreign body lodging.

Observation:

  • A 10-year-old Malay boy presented with symptoms suggestive of foreign body aspiration.
  • Computed tomography (CT) of the thorax identified an intraluminal foreign body in the bronchus.
  • Associated findings included pneumothorax and pneumomediastinum, indicating complications from the retained object.

Findings:

  • The aspirated foreign body was identified as a pencil cap.
  • The object was lodged in the right bronchial tree.
  • Successful removal of the foreign body was achieved via right bronchoscopy.

Implications:

  • Prompt diagnosis and intervention are crucial for managing foreign body aspiration in pediatric patients.
  • Bronchoscopy remains an effective method for foreign body removal from the tracheobronchial tree.
  • This case underscores the importance of recognizing potential airway emergencies in children and the utility of advanced imaging in diagnosis.

Keywords:
airway emergencybronchoscopybronchusforeign body aspirationotolaryngology emergencypneumothorax

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