title: Aspiration of a speaking valve.
abstract: Foreign body aspiration (FBA) is a relatively common and serious condition that can result in a spectrum of presentations ranging from incidental to acutely life-threatening. Described here is a case of aspiration of a tracheo-oesophageal speaking valve through a permanent tracheostomy that went unnoticed for a number of years, and an overview of the technique used for its removal. A 70-year-old ex-heavy smoker with a permanent tracheo-oesophageal fistula presented with a relatively recent history of increasing shortness of breath, sputum purulence and haemoptysis. Further investigation with a CT scan and bronchoscopy revealed the presence of a foreign body within his right lower lobe bronchus which was later removed by advancing a flexible bronchoscope over a rigid one.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Department of Health, Dingli, Malta. john.c.schembri@gmail.com
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schembri
authors.forename: Kelvin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Cortis
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mallia Azzopardi
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Montefort
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical / Q000009:adverse effects; D001980:Bronchi; D057210:Delayed Diagnosis; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005548:Foreign-Body Migration / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D053120:Respiratory Aspiration / Q000209:etiology*; D013071:Speech, Alaryngeal / Q000295:instrumentation; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014139:Tracheostomy / Q000009:adverse effects