Abstract
A case of an endoscopic removal of a tracheal foreign body using the Fogarty balloon catheter is described. A 19-month-old child was admitted in our clinic following aspiration of peanut, complaining of cough, stridor and respiratory distress. Although physically the chest showed no abnormal findings, X-ray examination of neck portion revealed the foreign body shadow in the trachea. Under the diagnosis of the tracheal foreign body, endoscopy was performed under general anesthesia without endotracheal intubation. The foreign body was tighly lodged in the trachea just beneath the vocal cord, and could not be removed by any foreign body forceps. A Fogarty balloon catheter was then introduced through the small gap between the foreign body and the tracheal wall and then the balloon was inflated. The foreign body was then removed smoothly with withdrawal of the catheter.
It was suggested that the balloon catheter is helpful during endoscopic removal of foreign body which could not be removed by the usual procedure.
