Korean J Crit Care Med.  2014 Feb;29(1):38-42. 10.4266/kjccm.2014.29.1.38.

Extraction of Endobronchial Tooth by Flexible Bronchoscopy Using Fishnet Basket in Patients of Intensive Care Unit with Artificial Airway

• Kim KC

• KMID: 2227802
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4266/kjccm.2014.29.1.38

Abstract

Foreign body aspiration into the tracheobronchial tree can cause serious problems. Tooth aspiration can occur during emergency endotracheal intubation. However, removal of a tooth from the airway is difficult because of the round shape and smooth surface of the tooth. Here, I report extraction of a tooth from the airway by flexible bronchoscopy using fishnet basket in intensive care patients. The procedure was performed in six patients. All patients were critically ill with an artificial airway (n = 4; endotracheal tube, n = 2; tracheostomy tube). The tooth location was right bronchial tree in three patients and left bronchial tree in three patients. Tooth extraction failed in two patients because the teeth were impacted in the distal bronchus during bronchoscopy. There was no complication such as life threatening arrhythmia or hypoxemia during the procedure. Using flexible bronchoscopy with a fishnet basket, we were able to extract aspirated teeth from patients with an artificial airway.

Keyword

bronchoscopy; foreign bodies; intensive care units; tooth

MeSH Terms

Anoxia
Arrhythmias, Cardiac
Bronchi
Bronchoscopy*
Critical Illness
Emergencies
Foreign Bodies
Humans
Intensive Care Units*
Critical Care*
Intubation, Intratracheal
Tooth Extraction
Tooth*
Tracheostomy