An Unusual Endobronchial Foreign Body: A Gauze That Migrated from the Mediastinum

Penetration of bronchial wall by knot of absorbable monofilament suture

A 75-year-old man underwent thoracoscopic left upper lobectomy for primary lung cancer. Additional ligature plication to the left superior pulmonary vein with absorbable monofilament suture was performed after stapling with an endostapler. Postoperative bronchoscopy revealed penetration of the monofilament thread edge eviscerating across the wall of the left main bronchus. The edge was spontaneously absorbed with no adverse events. Penetration of a thick monofilament thread edge into mediastinal organs should be considered when the thread is located in the mediastinum.

Bronchoscopic removal of staple-line reinforcement material

We report a case of a 60-year-old man who presented with severe productive cough caused by an endobronchial foreign body, which was due to the migration of a staple-line reinforcement material (Seamguard, W.L.Gore & Associates, Inc., Flagstaff, AZ). This material was placed over 5 years ago during a right upper lobe lobectomy for a poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma, (T1N0M0). We were able to remove the entire staple line by performing 2 separate flexible bronchoscopic interventions during a 1-year period without any consequences, thereby preventing an open thoracotomy. Our technique involved trimming the projecting reinforcement material with endoscopic scissors and removing it by pulling or pushing the staple line with a grasping forceps. Three-dimensional computed tomographic scanning was useful to detect the exact anatomic location and relation of the bronchial airway, great vessels, and pulmonary tissue to the foreign body. The use of absorbable staple-line reinforcement could avoid such a complication.

Unexpected autoptic finding in a sudden death: gossypiboma

Gossypiboma, i.e. a retained surgical sponge, is a serious and rare complication in surgical practice, most commonly occurring in abdominal procedures. Migration of retained surgical sponge is an unusual sequelae, particularly if occurring in tracheo-bronchial tree. Herein, we report a 35-year-old man who had had a retained surgical sponge forgotten during a radical thyroidectomy, and subsequently a trans-luminal migration of the gossypiboma which went through the trachea causing a sudden death of the patient. All the operators of the surgical team should keep in mind this terrible complication to avoid unpleasant consequences to patient and themselves.

[Foreign bodies in the thorax]

BACKGROUND

Metallic foreign bodies in the lung could be recognized using radiography. Non-metallic foreign bodies make difficultes because they are not as dense as metals. The aim of this report was to present the case of non-metallic foreign bodies in the lung.

CASE REPORT

A soldier of the Federation Army of Bosnia and Hertzegovina, injured in the explosion in 1998 was presented. The soldier was subjected to thoracic drainage and surgery tretment of the wound. After one year, the pulmologist treated him with tuberculostatics because of hemoptysis and pulmonary infiltration shown by a radiogram. This therapy had no effects, and the pulmologist presented this case to the thoracic surgeon who made thoracotomy removing a piece of wood (13 x 2 x 0.7 cm), 20 different-size pieces of wood, and a piece of textile from the lung.

CONCLUSION

Patients with penetrating explosive lung injuries without metallic foreign bodies shown by a radiogram, with complications as hemoptisis, lung abscess, bronchiectasis, obstruction of the bronchus, chronic pneumonia should be subjected to thoracotomy for removing suspected foreign bodies without resecting the lung.

Utility of fiberoptic bronchoscopy for retrieval of aspirated headscarf pins

BACKGROUND

Headscarf pin aspiration is a common and unique form of foreign body aspiration among young Moslem women. Rigid bronchoscopy (RB) is considered the standard procedure for retrieval. There are little data on the role of flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy (FOB) in the retrieval of aspirated headscarf pins.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study is to prospectively evaluate the utility of FOB for the retrieval of aspirated headscarf pins.

METHODS

Patients with the diagnosis of headscarf pin aspiration admitted to King Abdullah University Hospital from December 2002 to December 2005 were included in the study. Standard FOB procedure under local anesthesia and conscious sedation was performed as the primary tool for retrieval.

RESULTS

A total of 16 cases was admitted during the study period. The mean age was 19 years. The aspirated pin was successfully retrieved in 9/16 cases (56%) during the first attempt of FOB. In another 3 cases, although the pin was successfully retrieved from the bronchial tree, it was lost in the throat and swallowed, and then recovered by esophagogastroduodenoscopy. However, FOB was not successful in 4/16 cases. In 3 cases, the aspirated pins were successfully retrieved by RB under general anesthesia and the fourth case required thoracotomy.

CONCLUSIONS

Headscarf pin aspiration is a relatively common form of foreign body aspiration among young Moslem Jordanian women. FOB under local anesthesia can be a useful first-step tool in retrieval, provided facilities for esophagogastroduodenoscopy and RB are readily available.