[An unusual bronchial foreign body: a fragment of a tracheostomy tube].
A fragment of a fractured tracheostomy tube as a foreign body in the bronchus is very unusual. We report an 18-year old male with Hunter's syndrome who presented with fever and bronchorrhea. He had worn a tracheostomy tube for 2 years without its being removed for cleaning. Chest X-ray showed an opaque foreign body in the right main bronchus which was removed through a flexible bronchoscope and found to be a piece of the broken edge of the outer cannula of a tracheostomy tube. We suggest regular examination of tracheostomy tubes for signs of wear-and-tear and recommend their periodic renewal before they become worn out.
Saah
D
D
Dept. of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, Hadassah-University Hospital, Jerusalem.
Braverman
I
I
Sichel
J Y
JY
Picard
E
E
Springer
C
C
D000293:Adolescent; D004868:Equipment Failure; D005547:Foreign Bodies / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016532:Mucopolysaccharidosis II / Q000628:therapy*; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic; D014139:Tracheostomy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000295:instrumentation*