title: Evaluation and management of pill aspiration: case discussion and review of the literature.
abstract: Pill aspiration represents a unique type of foreign body aspiration requiring a distinct diagnostic and therapeutic approach. In many cases, the "foreign body" itself may no longer be present, whereas the airway manifestations may persist for months to years. Limited data exist to guide management decisions. We report two cases of severe airway injury secondary to pill aspiration and provide a review of the literature. Endobronchial surveillance may be important to identify impending airway obstruction via secretions, edema, granulation tissue, or fibrotic stricture. In many cases, the airway sequelae of pill aspiration can be effectively managed with bronchoscopy.
authors.affiliation: Pulmonary and Critical Care Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA.
authors.forename: C Matthew
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Kinsey
authors.affiliation: Division of Thoracic Surgery and Interventional Pulmonology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA.
authors.forename: Erik
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Folch
authors.affiliation: Division of Thoracic Surgery and Interventional Pulmonology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA.
authors.forename: Adnan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Majid
authors.affiliation: Pulmonary and Critical Care Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA. Electronic address: cchannick@partners.org.
authors.forename: Colleen L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Channick
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D001706:Biopsy; D001999:Bronchoscopy; D002214:Capsules / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003371:Cough; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005547:Foreign Bodies / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D005549:Foreign-Body Reaction / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D002214:Capsules