Two interesting cases of tracheobronchial foreign bodies.

To cite: Oncel M, Sunam GS, Ozbek S. BMJ Case Rep Published online: [please include Day Month Year] doi:10.1136/bcr-2013201170 DESCRIPTION Case one: A 76-year-old man, who underwent a total laryngectomy 6 years ago for squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx, was admitted to emergency department as a result of aspiration of a tea spoon through the tracheostomy canula. He was in a habit of cleaning thick secretions of the upper airway, with a spoon via the tracheostomy. However, this time the spoon had slipped into the trachea. In the emergency department the chest X-ray revealed the spoon in the right main bronchus (figure 1). The foreign body was viewed with the bronchoscope and removed with a pair of forceps. Laryngectomy or tracheostomy may cause risk for tracheal foreign body aspiration. In adults presence of a stoma should be added to the risk factors for foreign body aspiration during the habit of cleaning secretions. Case two: A previously healthy 8-year child aspirated a pen cap while laughing which he held between his teeth at school. He failed to throw out the pen cap despite vigorous coughing. On presentation to the emergency department he was dyspnoeic and had severe wheezing. A chest X-ray confirmed the suspicion of aspiration of the foreign body into the right main bronchus (Figure 2).