Removal of a foreign body from the bronchial tree - a new method

Tracheo-bronchial foreign bodies can be very difficult to remove. This may be related to the location and type of foreign body, the experience of the bronchoscopist and the availability of appropriate instruments. We report a case of an uncommon foreign body in an unusual location in an a dolescent in whom conventional attempts to remove it failed. The foreign bo dy was eventually recovered using a flexible bronchoscope and an intravascu lar wire loop snare under fluoroscopic control. The patient was saved from thoracotomy and possible lobectomy. To our knowledge, this combined fluoroscopic and endoscopic approach for th e removal of a difficult tracheobronchial foreign body is the first reporte d case in the literature.