Abstract
Foreign body aspiration (FBA) is a common cause of unintentional-injury mortality.
Modern bronchoscopy techniques have reduced mortality in children with FBA. In this
article, we described a case of a 16-month-old child with refractory hypoxia where
flexible bronchoscopy performed by the intensivist led to prompt etiology recognition
and proper treatment. Patients presenting with respiratory distress with persistent
hypoxia should be evaluated for FBA, considering initial chest X-ray can be normal
in at least 30% of the cases. Intensivists trained in flexible bronchoscopy techniques
possess a valuable tool to obtain diagnostic information avoiding delays in diagnosis
and initiation of unnecessary therapies, such as extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.
Keywords
bronchoscopy - aspiration - foreign body
