Open AccessAn overlooked bronchial foreign body in adult
Author(s) -
P. D. Vithalani,
Hiten R. Maniyar
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
indian journal of otolaryngology and head and neck surgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.229
H-Index - 22
eISSN - 2231-3796
pISSN - 0973-7707
DOI - 10.1007/bf02907705
Subject(s) - medicine , bronchoscopy , foreign body , chronic cough , flexible bronchoscopy , surgery , otorhinolaryngology , foreign body aspiration , bronchus , left main bronchus , foreign body removal , medical history , right main bronchus , asthma , respiratory disease , lung
A long-standing undiagnosed foreign body in bronchus in adult is very rare case. A 42 years old man with complain of chronic cough with expectoration and fever since 3 years was treated medically including a complete course of AKT for 6 months without improvement in the patient's condition. On taking detailed history, it was revealed that patient had swallowed or aspirated a denture before 3 years, which was overlooked by the treating clinicians. As denture is radiolucent foreign body it remained undiagnosed in X-ray chest for 3 years. It was visualized on flexible bronchoscopy and removed with rigid bronchoscopy. The patient got relieved from symptoms within a week. So presence of chronic cough. wheezing and fever without reduced air entry and without obstructive finding in X-ray chest, should indicate the need for diagnostic bronchoscopy. Also adult patients of recurrent lower respiratory symptoms in spite of satisfactory medical treatment must be submitted for diagnostic bronchoscopy.