Pediatria pre prax 5/2017

Aspiration of perforated pen cap – a case report

Foreign body aspiration is an acute potentially life-threatening event in childhood. Because of often unreliable history and uncertain clinical and radiologic finding, it represents a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. Aspirated pen cap predisposes to complete airway obstruction. Extraction is difficult due to its smooth surface. We report a case of an aspiration of perforated pen cap in a schoolchild with negative radiologic finding. We describe a safe and simple bronchoscopic technique of foreign body removal using an extraction basket.

Keywords: foreign body aspiration, pen cap, flexible bronchoscopy, prevention