A Clinical Analysis of Bronchial Foreign Bodies Removed by Bronchoscopy

<p>Background. Bronchial foreign bodies can cause suffocation, which can lead to complications, such as obstructive pneumonia and atelectasis. Therefore, their accurate diagnosis and expeditious removal are required. Purpose. We investigated the features and treatment of patients with bronchial foreign bodies. Method. We reviewed cases of bronchial foreign bodies treated at our hospital over the 18-year period, from 2005 to 2022. Results. There were ten cases of bronchial foreign bodies. All patients were adults, and all were over 60 years old (range: 68-88 years old). Most of the patients were men (nine men and one woman). Clinical symptoms included dyspnea, cough, and a fever, but approximately half of the patients had no subjective symptoms. Foreign bodies were found in the right bronchus in seven cases, the left bronchus in two cases, and the trachea in one case. Among all foreign bodies, five were dental crowns, three were food, and two were press-packaged capsules (PTPs). Among the nine patients who underwent chest X-ray, foreign bodies consisted of radiopaque materials in five cases and radiolucent materials in four cases. All radiopaque materials were foreign dental bodies. Foreign bodies were confirmed in all six patients who underwent chest computed tomography (CT). We removed the foreign body under local anesthesia in all cases. In nine cases of the forceps used could be confirmed, we used alligator-type forceps in seven cases and biopsy forceps in two cases. The period from aspiration of the foreign body to removal ranged from one hour to six months. The time required to remove the PTP varied greatly depending on whether or not the drug remained inside. Conclusion. It is conceivable that the incidence of bronchial foreign bodies in the elderly will increase in the future. Chest X-ray alone is not sufficient for a diagnosis; an imaging diagnosis using CT is necessary in addition to a detailed interview.</p>