FLEXIBLE FIBREOPTIC BRONCHOSCOPY IN THE REMOVAL OF LONG STANDING FOREIGN BODY: 2 CASE REPORTS

Two cases of chronic foreign body aspiration were treated in our hospital. Management of the foreign body aspiration was challenging in them as the symptoms were discrete and persisted for as long as 20 years and in one of the cases there was failure of retrieving the foreign body elsewhere. We share our experience in using flexible fibreoptic bronchoscope for removal of retained foreign body. This further emphasizes that flexible bronchoscopy is a successful therapeutic option if carried out using appropriate instruments by extremely skilled personnel in an adequate hospital setup and in selected cases.