RESEARCH ARTICLE Flexible Bronchoscopy with Multiple Modalities for Foreign Body Removal in Adults

Objectives Aspiration of the lower airways due to foreign body is rare in adults. This study aimed to de-termine the outcome of patients who received flexible bronchoscopy with different modali-ties for foreign body removal in the lower airways. Patients and Methods Between January 2003 and January 2014, 94 patients diagnosed with foreign body in the lower airways underwent flexible bronchoscopy with different modalities, which included for-ceps, loop, basket, knife, electromagnet, and cryotherapy. The clinical presentation, foreign body location and characteristics, and applications of flexible bronchoscopy were analyzed. Results Forty (43%) patients had acute aspiration, which developed within one week of foreign body entry and 54 (57%) had chronic aspiration. The most common foreign bodies were teeth or bone. More patients with chronic aspiration than those with acute aspiration were referred from the out-patient clinic (48 % vs. 28%), but more patients with acute aspiration were re