Foreign Body Removal Via Fiberoptic Bronchoscopy

Abstract

<h3>To the Editor.—</h3> Since the introduction of fiberoptic bronchoscopy in 1968 by Ikeda,¹the procedure has achieved widespread popularity. Sackner has recently discussed the topic in an extensive review.²Experience in the use of fiberoptic bronchoscopy for removal of foreign bodies is limited. We describe a case in which an aspirated rubber ear plug was successfully removed from the right lower lobe bronchus. A healthy 21-year-old man, a welder, was referred to the Pulmonary Medicine Clinic because of persistent coughing of 12 hours' duration. He stated that it was his habit to hold his noise-suppression ear plugs in his mouth while relaxing away from the work area and had apparently inhaled one while speaking. He had no prior history of pulmonary disease. Results of a physical examination were normal. The chest x-ray film did not disclose any infiltrates or loss of volume. Using topical anesthesia with 0.25% tetracaine