Project description:The clinical manifestations of foreign body (FB) aspiration can range from an asymptomatic presentation to a life-threatening emergency. Patients may present with acute onset cough, chest pain, breathlessness or sub-acutely with unexplained hemoptysis, non-resolving pneumonia and at times, as an incidental finding on imaging. Patients with iatrogenic FB such as an aspirated broken tooth during difficult intubation or a broken instrument are more common scenarios in the intensive care unit (ICU). Patients with post-obstructive pneumonia with or without sepsis, or variable degree of hemoptysis often require ICU level of care and bronchoscopic interventions. Rigid bronchoscopy has traditionally been the modality of choice; however, with the innovation in instrumentation and wider availability of flexible bronchoscopes, most of the FB removal is now successfully performed using flexible bronchoscopy. Proceduralists choose instruments in accordance with their training and expertise. We describe the use of most common instruments including forceps, balloon catheters, and baskets. Role of cryoprobe and LASER in FB removal is reviewed as well. In general, larger working channel bronchoscopes are preferred; however, smaller working channel bronchoscopes may be used in situations when the patients are intubated with a smaller diameter endotracheal or tracheostomy tubes. Large size FB are removed en bloc with the grasping tool, bronchoscope, and endotracheal or tracheostomy tube, requiring preparation to safely re-establish the airway. After FB removal, bronchoscopy is re-performed to identify any residual FB, assess any injury to the airway, suction post-obstructive secretions or pus, control any active bleeding and remove granulation tissue that may be obstructing the airway. Additional interventions like balloon dilatation may be required to dislodge an impacted FB or to maintain patency of bronchial lumen. If bronchoscopic methods fail, surgery may be required for retrieval of FB in symptomatic patients or to resect suppurative or necrotizing lung process. Multidisciplinary approach involving intensivists, surgeons, and anesthesiologists is the key to optimal patient outcomes.
Project description:IntroductionAccidental foreign body aspiration can cause severe damage to the airway and threaten the patient's life. This situation requires multidisciplinary and systematic approach from the medical and surgical team, in order to achieve complete resolution maintaining airway permeability.Presentation of caseThis is a 49 y/o man who presented with a severe asthma attack, in whom an unsuspected foreign body in the inferior airway was diagnosed, which was possibly the result of aspiration during the initial emergency care, causing worsening of the already critical condition.DiscussionWe described the clinical course, radiologic and endoscopic findings, and outcome of the patient, highlighting the importance of considering the possibility of a foreign body in the airway, when there is no improvement in refractory status asthmaticus. This is particularly important in a university hospital. Moreover, the implementation of checklists when invasive procedures are performed can avoid loss of material, preventing iatrogenic aspiration events.ConclusionForeign body aspirations may remain undetected due to lack of suspicion, especially in adults, in whom they can cause chronic symptoms, or worsen chronic respiratory conditions turning them into more complex diseases. This cause must be considered in the differential diagnosis of refractory status asthmaticus.
Project description:Over the course of the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, numerous complications have been documented. In this report, we have detailed an unexpected complication of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection that occurred in a 73-year-old female patient who was simultaneously afflicted with mucormycosis and another unanticipated problem. Due to the lack of recovery of the patient after receiving mucormycosis treatment and continued fever, cough and hemoptysis, bronchoscopy was performed for her. During bronchoscopy, we encountered a foreign body that was the cause of the patient's fever, cough, and hemoptysis. Rigid bronchoscopy was performed and the foreign body was removed from the left main bronchus. The lack of a favorable treatment response after administering antifungal therapy suggested that the presence of a foreign body could potentially act as an underlying nidus, thus influencing the suboptimal therapeutic outcome. Mucormycosis is usually characterized by distinct radiological patterns. However, this case did not present predictable imaging findings, further complicating the diagnostic process associated with this invasive fungal infection.
Project description:BackgroundForeign body aspiration (FBA) in children has a high morbidity, and early diagnosis is the key for preventing acute and chronic respiratory complications. To diagnose FBA, commonly used imaging modalities have limited negative predictive value, and rigid bronchoscopy remains as the gold standard. We present a case where the diagnosis of FBA was made in a novel way with electrical impedance tomography (EIT). Case Presentation. A 19-month-old previously healthy boy was admitted with a clinical diagnosis of respiratory failure secondary to bronchiolitis. Chest X-ray showed bilateral lung hyperinflation. He enrolled in a research study which used EIT to measure the effects of high flow nasal cannula (HFNC) on minute ventilation in children with bronchiolitis. On initiation, the patient had near-normal right lung ventilation (98%) and near-absent left lung ventilation (2%). We discontinued the study and alerted the medical team that we suspected FBA. Further imaging (lateral decubitus films and lung ultrasounds) was also obtained, but was not diagnostic. Rigid bronchoscopy was performed and showed a peanut occluding the left mainstem bronchus (LMB). The peanut was removed followed by complete resolution of the patient's symptoms.ConclusionsWe believe this is the first reported case of FBA diagnosed via EIT. EIT has been shown to be a useful but underutilized technology for diagnosing respiratory disease. While FBA remains a relatively common cause of morbidity and mortality in children less than age four, early diagnosis remains difficult and requires vigilance. This case illustrates the challenges of relying on chest films and ultrasound to assist with diagnosis and suggests that EIT in combination with a thorough history and physical exam can be used to confirm the presence of FBA.
Project description:Esophageal foreign bodies (FBs) are common and can be the serious cause of morbidity and mortality in children. One-third of FBs, retained in the gastrointestinal tract, are found in the esophagus. Their management depends on the anatomical location, shape, size, and the duration of impaction. In children, unwitnessed esophageal FBs can present with respiratory symptoms such as stridor. Therefore, a high index of suspicion is generally required to avoid significant morbidity and mortality. We are reporting an unusual FB with unusual symptoms in a 2-year-old female child.
Project description:Wooden foreign bodies penetrating through the orbit into paranasal sinuses are rare. We report a case of a young male who complained of double vision, pain and redness after a fall from a tree. There was no external wound over periocular skin. The clinical and radiological examination was suggestive of an inferior orbito-sinal wooden foreign body with floor fracture, which was managed by surgical removal of the foreign body and orbital floor fracture repair using a silicon sheet in a single sitting.
Project description:ImportanceAlthough various clinical prediction models (CPMs) have been described for diagnosing pediatric foreign body aspiration (FBA), to our knowledge, there is still no consensus regarding indications for bronchoscopy, the criterion standard for identifying airway foreign bodies.ObjectiveTo evaluate currently available CPMs for diagnosing FBA in children.Data sourcesPerformed in Ovid MEDLINE, Ovid Embase, PubMed, Web of Science, and CINAHL database with citation searching of retrieved studies.Study selectionPrediction model derivation and validation studies for diagnosing FBA in children were included. Exclusion criteria included adult studies; studies that included variables that were not available in routine clinical practice and outcomes for FBA were not separate or extractable.Data extraction and synthesisWe followed the Critical Appraisal and Data Extraction for Systematic Reviews of Prediction Modeling Studies and the Prediction Model Risk of Bias Assessment Tool framework. Data were pooled using a random-effects model.Main outcomes and measuresThe primary outcome was the diagnosis of FBA as confirmed by bronchoscopy. Characteristics of CPMs and individual predictors were evaluated. The final model presentation with available measures of performance was provided by narrative synthesis. A meta-analysis of individual predictor variables and prediction models was performed.ResultsAfter screening 4233 articles, 7 studies (0.2%; 1577 patients) were included in the final analysis. There were 6 model derivation studies and 1 validation study. Air trapping (odds ratio [OR], 8.3; 95% CI, 4.4-15.5), unilateral reduced air entry (OR, 4.8; 95% CI, 3.5-6.5), witnessed choking (OR, 3.1; 95% CI, 1.0-9.6), wheezing (OR, 2.5; 95% CI, 1.2-5.2), and suspicious findings suggestive of FBA on radiography (OR, 18.5; 95% CI, 5.0-67.7) were the most commonly used predictor variables. Model performance varied, with discrimination scores (C statistic) ranging from 0.74 to 0.88. The pooled weighted C statistic score of all models was 0.86 (95% CI, 0.80-0.92). All studies were deemed to be at high risk of bias, with overfitting of models and lack of validation as the most pertinent concerns.Conclusions and relevanceThis systematic review and meta-analysis suggests that existing CPMs for FBA in children are at a high risk of bias and have not been adequately validated. No current models can be recommended to guide clinical decision-making. Future CPM studies that adhere to recognized standards for development and validation are required.
Project description:Foreign body aspiration (FBA) is a serious preventable pediatric health problem and one of the main causes of accidental death in children. Although unusual in adults, it is often overlooked as a cause of airway obstruction with serious consequences. This study assessed awareness and previous FBA experiences in the Asir community, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Using validated questionnaire, an annonymous online survey was conducted among 870 people aged 18 years and above. The questionnaire was used to collect data about the personal and sociodemographic characteristics of the respondents, as well as their experiences with FBA, and participants' knowledge and perceived seriousness of FBA. The level of knowledge was deemed good if the score ranged between 60% and 100%, and bad if the score fell below 60%The level of knowledge was deemed good if the score ranged between 60% and 100%, and bad if the score fell below 60%. The majority of the participants (79.7%) were females, 48.1% were aged 18 to 30 years, 72.9% had university degree, 30.6% were students, 26.9% worked in the educational sector, 43.6% reported monthly income of <5000 Saudi Riyals and 19.8% of them identified themselves as healthcarepractitioners. Although the community experience with FBA was considerably high (70.6%) among the study participants, their awareness levels about FBA were deficient. Only 24.7% of the respondents had good knowledge of FBA. Older age, being a health practitioner, and perceiving FBA as a serious incident were significantly associated with good knowledge (P < .001). The findings of this study indicate an urgent need to raise community awareness of FBA. To reduce FBA morbidity and mortality, health education efforts in community and healthcare settings are required to educate people about the seriousness and importance of early diagnosis and management of the condition.
Project description:A 15-month-old girl developed persistent cough with no associated history of foreign body aspiration. Chest X-ray showed a U-shaped radiopaque foreign body, which was initially thought to be a hairpin, in the right main bronchus. Rigid bronchoscopy was performed and the foreign body turned out to be a light-emitting diode (LED) bulb. In this article, we report our experience of LED bulb aspiration in children, with the view to raise the awareness of clinicians about this potentially life-threatening emergency.
Project description:Although spinal cord injuries are frequent causes of myelopathy in young patients, stab wounds of the spinal cord rarely occur and are typically maximal symptomatic immediately after the trauma.A 31-year-old male developed delayed onset of symptoms 4 years after a stab wound to the cervical spinal cord attributed to a plant needle (plant called Mandacaru). Following removal of the foreign body and decompression/excision of scarring at the C34 level, the patient's symptoms resolved.Surgical excision should be encouraged to remove chronic penetrating foreign bodies to both decompress and untether the spinal cord.