title: An unusual iatrogenic foreign body (surgical gauze) in the trachea.
abstract: We report the case of a 60-year-old male with history of surgery for tracheal stenosis 21 years prior to the onset of difficult asthma-like symptoms. Upon exploring the tracheobronchial tree using the fiberoptic bronchoscope, a surgical gauze was found. The foreign body migrated transluminally from the mediastinum into the trachea and its removal was possible with rigid bronchoscopy leading to a rapid recovery of his symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pulmonary Diseases, Department of Respiratory and Allergic Diseases, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Ospedali Riuniti Umberto 1-G.M. Lancisi-G. Salesi, Ancona, Italy.
authors.forename: Rollin P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Tabuena
authors.forename: Lina
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zuccatosta
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tubaldi
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gasparini
mesh_terms: D001999:Bronchoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003371:Cough / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005547:Foreign Bodies / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015503:Surgical Sponges; D014132:Trachea; D016896:Treatment Outcome