INTRABRONCHIAL MIGRATORY SEED INHALATION - ULTRASONOGRAPHY IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF PLEUROCUTANEOUS FISTULA

We report two cases of inhalation of seeds in infants aged 11 months a nd two years. In the first the syndrome of inhalation had not been app reciated. The seed blocked the left bronchus, provoking an obstructive emphysema with superinfection. The outcome was satisfactory after rem oval by bronchoscopy. In the second case although the aspiration of th e particle was appreciated the endoscopy was performed too late to pre vent the migration of the seed. After having produced a pneumonia it c rossed the pleura and gave a subcutaneous swelling. This migration cou ld in part be followed by ultrasound which enabled the appropriate mom ent for surgical exploration to be defined. These two cases show the t wo possible evolutions when the inhalation of a seed occurs and the co ntribution that can be made by ultrasound.