Aspiration of a perforated pen cap: complete tracheal obstruction without radiologic evidence

Abstract

Foreign body aspiration is a common but underestimated event in children with potentially fatal outcome. Because of unreliable histories and inconsistent clinical and radiologic findings, diagnosis and treatment can represent a challenge. Inhaled pen caps predispose for complete airway obstruction and are difficult to extract because of their smooth surface. We report a case of an aspirated perforated pen cap with normal radiologic findings and describe a safe and easy bronchoscopic extraction technique using a Fogarty arterial embolectomy catheter.

Keywords: children, flexible bronchoscopy, Fogarty catheter, foreign body aspiration, pen cap, rigid bronchoscopy