Da Nang: Successful endoscopy to remove foreign body from bronchus of 69-year-old woman

DNVN - After a long period of persistent coughing, accompanied by recurrent pneumonia, a 69-year-old woman had a bronchoscopy performed under anesthesia by doctors from the Department of Respiratory Medicine - Allergy and Immunology (Da Nang Hospital) to successfully remove a sharp piece of bone from her airway.

On the afternoon of May 29, Da Nang Hospital announced that doctors from the Department of Internal Medicine, Respiratory Medicine and Allergy Immunology of this hospital had successfully removed a sharp piece of bone from the airway of a 69-year-old woman after a long period of persistent coughing and recurrent pneumonia.

Endoscopic image of foreign object detected in the bronchus of an elderly woman LTTR

LTTR patient (residing in Tam Ky, Quang Nam) was admitted to the hospital with a dry cough that lasted for more than 3 months. Recently, the cough increased with fever and chest pain. Previously, the patient had been treated at a lower-level medical facility but suspected of severe progression so he was transferred to Da Nang Hospital.

Chest X-ray results showed a solid lesion in the upper lobe of the left lung. Chest CT scan results showed a localized collapse with partial bronchiectasis in the upper lobe of the left lung/high-density contrast image in the junction of the upper and lower lobes of the left lung.

The patient was indicated for bronchoscopy using a soft tube under anesthesia. Doctors successfully removed a piece of bone measuring about 2x1.5cm, sharp, causing prolonged inflammation. After the procedure, the patient was conscious, cough and chest pain were significantly reduced, lungs were well ventilated and will be discharged in the near future.

Dr. Hoang Thi Tam - Deputy Head of the Department of Internal Medicine, Respiratory Medicine - Allergy and Immunology, Da Nang Hospital said that foreign bodies in the airways are dangerous causes that can be overlooked if not thought of and diagnosed early. Foreign bodies not only cause chronic pneumonia and coughing up blood, but can also lead to respiratory failure, threatening life.

The patient's health has stabilized and he is about to be discharged from the hospital.

People need to be especially vigilant when they have symptoms of prolonged cough, recurrent pneumonia, especially after choking, choking or eating carelessly. In many cases, foreign objects can go deep into the airway after a strong cough without the patient realizing it immediately. Bronchoscopy is an important technique to help detect and remove foreign objects from the airway safely and effectively if any.

Dr. Hoang Thi Tam also recommends that adults should not talk or laugh while eating; avoid the habit of chewing toothpicks, pens, screws, or safety pins. Elderly people and bedridden patients should eat slowly and in the correct position; they may need to puree their food or have a nasogastric tube inserted if there is a high risk of choking.

Do not let children play with objects that are easy to swallow such as batteries, seeds, toy pieces; do not let children run, jump, or play while eating. For fruits with seeds such as custard apples and sapodillas, remove the seeds before feeding them to children.

When choking or foreign body in the airway is suspected, if the patient is conscious and can cough, encourage strong coughing. If choking, perform the Heimlich maneuver (a method of using hand pressure from the rescuer to create strong pressure in the airway, to push the foreign body blocking the trachea out of the upper respiratory tract) or call 115 for emergency help. If the cough persists for an unknown reason, especially after choking, go to a medical facility with a respiratory specialist for timely endoscopy examination.

Hai Chau

Source: https://doanhnghiepvn.vn/tin-tuc/da-nang-noi-soi-lay-thanh-cong-di-vat-phe-quan-cho-cu-ba-69-tuoi/20250529032120775