Successful Removal of an Accidentally Aspirated Bean from the Bronchus Using a Cryoprobe: A Case Report

Abstract

A 70-year-old male receiving long-term oxygen therapy for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease presented to our hospital with a 1-week history of persistent cough. Chest computed tomography showed an 11-mm foreign body in the right bronchus intermedius, which was corroborated by findings from flexible bronchoscopy. Initial attempts to extract the foreign body using basket and grasping forceps were unsuccessful. Subsequent removal using a cryoprobe identified the foreign body as a bean (green pea). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of a bean being successfully removed from the bronchus via cryoextraction. This case highlights the potential utility of cryoprobes in removing foreign bodies, especially fragile objects.