Critical obstruction of the airway by a foreign body in a pediatric patient

A foreign body in the airway is an emergency that requires urgent evaluation and treatment. Recognizing clinical features of choking, anesthesia and removing a foreign body in childhood are a major challenge for paediatric anesthesiologist and otorhinolaryngologist . In the case of organic foreign bodies the irritation, inflamation and swelling of foreign body may further complicate the situation. The narrowest part of the airway in a child is at the subglottis and rigid endoscopy may traumatise the region leading to postoperative airway obstruction. We present the case of a 13-month-old child who has aspirated a foreign body in the left bronchus, clinical symptoms, preoperative preparation, anesthesia technique and rigid bronchoscopy, as well as problems that we have encountered to cure the child.