An unusual iatrogenic foreign body (surgical gauze) in the trachea

Rollin P Tabuena; Lina Zuccatosta; Alberto Tubaldi; Stefano Gasparini

doi:10.1159/000088691

An unusual iatrogenic foreign body (surgical gauze) in the trachea

Respiration. 2008;75(1):105-8. doi: 10.1159/000088691. Epub 2005 Sep 30.

Authors

Rollin P Tabuena¹, Lina Zuccatosta, Alberto Tubaldi, Stefano Gasparini

Affiliation

¹ Division of Pulmonary Diseases, Department of Respiratory and Allergic Diseases, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Ospedali Riuniti Umberto 1-G.M. Lancisi-G. Salesi, Ancona, Italy.

PMID: 16205043
DOI: 10.1159/000088691

Abstract

We report the case of a 60-year-old male with history of surgery for tracheal stenosis 21 years prior to the onset of difficult asthma-like symptoms. Upon exploring the tracheobronchial tree using the fiberoptic bronchoscope, a surgical gauze was found. The foreign body migrated transluminally from the mediastinum into the trachea and its removal was possible with rigid bronchoscopy leading to a rapid recovery of his symptoms.

Publication types

Case Reports
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Bronchoscopy / methods*
Chronic Disease
Cough / diagnosis
Cough / etiology
Follow-Up Studies
Foreign Bodies / diagnosis*
Foreign Bodies / therapy
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Surgical Sponges*
Trachea*
Treatment Outcome