Intratracheal Foreign Body Aspiration During Consciousness Disorder due to Cardiopulmonary Arrest: a Case Report

Abstract

Background. The detection of foreign bodies in the respiratory tract is often difficult in patients with decreased sensorium. Case. A man in his 50s presented to our hospital with cardiopulmonary arrest due to acute myocardial infarction. After resuscitation and percutaneous coronary angioplasty, a chest computed tomography scan was performed for prolonged aspiration pneumonia, and a foreign body in the respiratory tract was suspected. A flexible partial denture in the right main bronchus was identified via flexible bronchoscopy and was removed using a snare forceps. Conclusion. We encountered a case of a foreign body (denture) in the airway that was aspirated while the patient's consciousness was impaired, which was difficult to diagnose. In cases when structures are found in the tracheal lumen, the exclusion of foreign bodies in addition to sputum is important.