A Foreign Body Aspiration Leading to Pneumothorax: A Case of Airway Emergency

TL;DR

A 10-year-old boy aspirated a pencil cap, causing a life-threatening lung condition that was successfully treated with bronchoscopy.

Contribution

This case highlights the rare but serious complication of pneumothorax due to foreign body aspiration in children.

Findings

A pencil cap aspirated into the bronchus caused pneumothorax and pneumomediastinum in a child.

CT imaging confirmed the presence of the foreign body and guided successful bronchoscopic removal.

Right bronchial impaction was observed, consistent with the anatomical predisposition in such cases.

Abstract

Foreign body (FB) aspiration is a matter that should not be taken lightly. The presence of a foreign object might lead to hazardous complications, particularly in the pediatric population. These complications depend on the type and location of the aspirated object as the tracheobronchial tree has a very small diameter, and foreign bodies become stuck in the upper airways of children, causing stridor and sudden difficulty in breathing. Impaction of a foreign body in the right bronchial tree is more frequent due to the relatively straighter alignment of the right mainstem of the trachea, as opposed to the left side. Herein, we present a 10-year-old Malay boy who accidentally aspirated a pencil cap. An urgent computed tomography (CT) of the thorax revealed a suspicious intraluminal FB in the bronchus leading to pneumothorax and pneumomediastinum. He underwent a right bronchoscopy and a successful FB removal.

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