Two Cases of Pneumothorax and Subcutaneous Emphysema Associated with Removal of Neglected Tracheal Foreign Body / 대한이비인후과학회지

ABSTRACT

Tracheal foreign body aspiration, which most commonly occurs in the pediatric population, can lead to a life-threatening event. In many pediatric cases it is difficult to confirm a history of foreign body aspiration, with frequent misdiagnoses of asthma, croup or pneumonia, leading to increased complications and mortality. When a tracheal foreign body is suspected, the treatment principle is to do bronchoscopy under the cooperation of otolaryngologists, pediatricians and cardiothoracic surgeons; the choice between procedures should be made with consideration of factors such as the size, location of foreign body and the condition of the patient. Subcutaneous emphysema and pneumothorax are rarely reported complications of tracheal foreign body, and are known to usually occur after removal of the foreign body. The authors hereby report, with a review of the literature, 2 cases of subcutaneous emphysema and pneumothorax occurring after foreign body removal through bronchoscopy and tracheotomy in pediatric tracheal aspiration patients.