Introduction

• Occasional problem, more often involving main stem bronchi (R>L side).
• Cause: grass and cereal seeds, vegetation, food.
• Signs: acute spasmodic coughing, progressing to a softer chronic cough; halitosis as foreign material decomposes; dyspnea uncommon unless trachea obstruction; exercise intolerance due to secondary pulmonary infection.
• Diagnosis: endoscopy.
• Treatment: bronchoscopy and forceps, or Foley catheter, removal; lung lobectomy if distal bronchial location.
• Prognosis: good following uncomplicated removal; occasional persistent bronchiecstasis.

Pathogenesis

Etiology

• Inhaled foreign body, eg grass seed, whole cereal head:
  • Classic history is of dog running through a corn field, returning coughing and retching.
• Occasional inhalation of food particles on feeding.

Pathophysiology

• Inhalation of foreign body → cough.
• Possible secondary pulmonary infection.
• Possible bronchiectasis Lung: bronchiectasis around foreign material → chronic coughing / recurrent infection.

Diagnosis

Treatment

Outcomes