Challenges and Complications Following Unsuccessful Rigid Bronchoscopic Retrieval of a Distal Airway Foreign Body: A...

FBA is the most common cause of accidental mortality among children and infants.Rigid bronchoscopy is gold standard but when it fails, flexible bronchoscopy is recommended as a complementary modality. Here we present a case of a 10-month-old child who developed vigorous coughing, cyanosis and loss of consciousness following ingestion of a piece of apple.Initial chest X-ray was non-diagnostic as the aspirated material was radiolucent, and the exact location was subsequently identified on HRCT. Foreign body couldn't be retrieved by rigid bronchoscopy. Flexible bronchoscopy was not subsequently attempted. The child was managed with intensive supportive care and broad-spectrum antimicrobials. This case highlights the diagnostic and therapeutic dilemmas encountered when standard bronchoscopic interventions fail. While conservative management may be forced by technical limitations, it carries significant risks of long-term complications.This case illustrates the potential role of flexible bronchoscopy, and the critical need for long-term follow-up in cases of retained airway foreign bodies.