Indications for open surgical removal of airway foreign bodies

Airway foreign bodies can usually be extracted by skillful application of endoscopic techniques. We report our experience in the management of 2 infants in whom sharp, pointed objects dictated consideration for an open surgical approach. Clinical presentation and treatment options will be discussed in the successful management of these 2 patients, one with a crab claw in the subglottis and the other with an electronic diode in the lung. Extensive training and a full complement of modern instruments are required, but in highly selected cases, an open surgical procedure entails less risk than endoscopic extraction.