Extraction of an Impacted Foreign Body Bronchus in an Adult Using Flexible Bronchoscopy

Foreign body aspiration (FBA) can be potentially fatal if the object is large enough to cause nearly complete obstruction of the upper airway. The object causing obstruction beyond the carina can result in less severe clinical presentation. FBA is rare in adults than in children. If the clinical history is not suggestive of FBA, then a high index of suspicion and flexible bronchoscopy can ensure proper diagnosis and prompt intervention. We present a case of an adult with aspirated betel nut in the left main bronchus, removed using flexible bronchoscopy with the aid of a Fogarty balloon catheter following the failure of rigid bronchoscopy.