Fatal tracheobronchial obstruction caused by a swallowed glove: a rare forensic case with postmortem CT-autopsy correlation.
Rabab Al Mansoori, Suguru Torimitsu, Mio Okada et al.
✦ AI-curated · Sources linked
Case in brief
An elderly male with advanced dementia was found unresponsive in a hospital bed. Despite resuscitation efforts, no airway obstruction was identified. Postmortem CT revealed a tubular foreign body in the trachea, resembling a folded rubber glove, which caused nearly complete airway obstruction. Autopsy confirmed death by asphyxia due to the glove ingestion.
What made this case unusual
The case presents a rare instance of fatal tracheobronchial obstruction caused by glove ingestion, which is typically overlooked in clinical evaluations.
Diagnostic / clinical pearl
Clinicians should consider the possibility of foreign body aspiration, including unusual items like gloves, in cognitively impaired patients presenting with unresponsiveness.
Why it matters
This case emphasizes the need for enhanced vigilance and preventive measures against foreign body aspiration in elderly patients, particularly those with cognitive impairments.