Bronchoscopic Internal Traction for Airway Foreign Body Removal via Tracheotomy Under ECMO.
Ko-Chun Fang, Hua Chiang, Jyun-Hong Jiang et al.
✦ AI-curated · Sources linked
Case in brief
A patient with an airway foreign body, specifically a pen cap, presented with an obstruction that could not be removed using standard rigid bronchoscopy. The case utilized a tracheotomy for access and employed an internal traction technique to mobilize and retrieve the object. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) was used to ensure adequate oxygenation during the procedure, successfully resolving the obstruction.
Diagnostic / clinical pearl
Internal traction-assisted mobilization can be an effective technique for retrieving foreign bodies that lack an external grasping surface, especially when conventional methods fail.
Why it matters
The use of ECMO during complex airway procedures can enhance patient safety by maintaining oxygenation and minimizing the risk of hypoxia.