OBSTRUCTION OF A LOBAR BRONCHUS BY A SUCR ALFATE TABLET - A RARE CAUSE OF ACUTE RESPIRATORY-FAILURE

We report two cases of patients with chronic respiratory disease who e xperienced an asphyxia after aspirating a sucralfate tablet that occlu ded a lobar bronchus. In adults, a foreign body is a rare cause of acu te respiratory failure from tracheobronchial occlusion. The sucralfate tablet has the physical property of expanding rapidly when wet (conta ct with mucosa). After aspiration, the tablet expands to a larger size and can occlude a lobar bronchus, causing acute respiratory failure. In patients at risk of aspiration, we recommend the use of sucralfate in liquid or suspension form. (C) 1998 Elsevier, Paris.