Endobronchial foreign body aspiration with fiberoptic bronchoscopic retrieval

Endobronchial foreign body aspiration is common in infants and young children but relatively uncommon in adults. Adults with foreign body aspiration events often have certain predisposing conditions, such as recent trauma, neurologic disorders, or head and neck surgery with tracheotomy stomas. Chest radiography is often nonspecific, but suggestive radiographic findings include the manifestations of endobronchial obstruction-recurrent pneumonia, atelectasis, and air trapping. CT allows direct visualization and precise localization of endobronchial foreign bodies. Fiberoptic bronchoscopy is the procedure of choice for endobronchial foreign body retrieval and is successful in most cases.