Successful airway resuscitation and removal of a life-threatening subglottic foreign body in an infant: a case report.

Abstract

Airway foreign body (FB) removal is challenging and a time-limited and lifesaving procedure. Herein, we report successful removal of a life-threatening FB in the subglottic airway in an infant by physically forcing the FB further into the distal airway to block one lung and save the other. A 12-month-old boy presented in the emergency department with choking. Upon arrival, his mental status was alert. However, respiratory failure rapidly progressed and respiratory arrest occurred. We attempted to move the FB distally by pushing the endotracheal tube as deep as possible and inserting the stylet further. The patient was successfully resuscitated, and bronchoscopic FB removal was performed. The patient was discharged without respiratory or neurologic sequelae.