Foreign body removal with the flexible fiberoptic bronchoscope

Intrabronchial foreign bodies are occasionally encountered in adults but most available information in humans consists only of reports evaluating one or two cases. We surveyed our experience and found seven patients with intrabronchial foreign bodies who had been examined with the flexible fiberoptic bronchoscope, six of whom were managed successfully. Nine cases have been identified in the literature. Although there were no major complications in either our cases or those in the literature, several problems were identified which under other circumstances could have caused significant complications. We assessed all of these cases for situations which presented potential risk to the patient. These risks were grouped into the following problem categories: 1. selection of appropriate bronchoscope, 2. availability of appropriate instruments, 3. control of the foreign body, and 4. unexpected foreign bodies. Endoscopists planning to use the FFB in foreign body removal should be aware of the problems and hazards which may ensue if improperly managed, and should attempt to gain experience either in the animal laboratory or in models prior to approaching patients with foreign bodies with the flexible fiberoptic bronchoscope.