Airway calcium pill aspiration syndrome

Area of Science:

• Medicine
• Pulmonology
• Emergency Medicine

Background:

• Pill aspiration is a rare but life-threatening cause of foreign body aspiration.
• Aspirated pills present unique diagnostic and management challenges due to their composition and coating.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report a case of pill aspiration in an elderly male patient.
• To highlight the diagnostic and therapeutic role of bronchoscopy in such cases.

Main Methods:

• A high-resolution CT scan identified a hyperdense lesion in the bronchus.
• Flexible and rigid bronchoscopy were used for diagnosis and foreign body extraction.
• The aspirated object was retrieved using a cryoprobe.

Main Results:

• A calcium tablet was successfully extracted from the right bronchus intermedius.
• The patient presented with acute cough and shortness of breath following medication intake.
• The retrieved object was identified as an aspirated calcium tablet.

Conclusions:

• Pill aspiration should be considered in elderly patients with acute respiratory symptoms post-medication.
• Bronchoscopic techniques are vital for accurate diagnosis and safe retrieval of aspirated pills.
• Prompt recognition and intervention are essential for favorable outcomes in pill aspiration cases.