Unusual case of foreign body in Tracheobronchial Tree A 60 year old female patient underwent a cardiac surgery which was successfully done. The patient was shifted to the ICU for observation. The patient developed breathlessness after 48 hours of stable condition post surgery. She was immediately referred to the cardiac surgeon who operated her. It was stated that the reason for her unstable condition is not a cardiac problem. An ENT surgeon was called for a tracheostomy thinking that there could be a possible upper airway obstruction. This did not give the patient any relief. Pulmonologist was called for bronchoscopy which revealed that there was a vascular mass in wind pipe (trachea - which allows passage of air to the lungs). Biopsy of that mass was not possible as it would have led to a possible bleeding and would have worsened the condition. This case was handed over to Dr Sanjay Helale. The patient was taken to the emergency operated room for laser assisted biopsy. While attempting, laser assisted biopsy it was realised that it was a rubbery mass entering the carina (cartilaginous ridge within the trachea). It was 5 cm long rubbery foreign body removed from the tracheo-bronchial tree (wind pipe & its branches). This helped free air passage in the lungs and helped stable breathing. The patient was completely stable. Rubbery mass was solidified biological glue used during heart surgery (for haemostatic) which got absorbed into alveoolar surface of lung (gas exchange surface of lungs), and got expelled into the tracheobronchial tree (wind pipe & its branches).
Posted on: Mon, 24 Nov 2014 07:52:31 +0000
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