Abstract
Foreign bodies in the trachea or bronchus are highly dangerous and need to be treated immediately and appropriately. Most foreign bodies are removed by rigid bronchoscope or flexible bronchoscope. Some foreign bodies, however, are difficult to remove. We report our experience with removal through a tracheostoma.
The patient was a 56-year-old male with a past history of cerebral infarction and hemorrhage. He was receiving feeding mostly via percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG), but a modicum of oral feeding was also possible. One day, he aspirated a large piece of meat and severe dyspnea occurred. We found it in contact with the carina and thought it was too large to pass the subglottic region by rigid or flexible bronchoscope. We prepared a percutaneous cardiopulmonary support system (PCPS) for acute respiratory obstruction. We performed a tracheotomy and were able to remove the blockage through a tracheostoma while maintaining spontaneous breathing without use of PCPS.
