Peripheral Bronchial Foreign Body Successfully Removed by a Balloon Catheter

Abstract

We report a case of bronchial foreign body removed by a balloon catheter. A 74-year-old man was admitted to our hospital for further evaluation and treatment of a foreign body in the lung. Chest CT showed that the foreign body was impacted in the peripheral bronchus of left B^<10>c. We could not observe the foreign body bronchoscopically. However we were able to remove the foreign body with a balloon catheter easily and safely. Long-term impacted bronchial foreign bodies cause various complications. They should be removed as repidly as possible. Balloon catheters can be useful for removal of peripheral bronchial foreign bodies even if they cannot be observed by the bronchoscope.