Upper-airway foreign bodies: is a clinical approach enough for proceeding with invasive management? Evidence from a case

Introduction: Upper-airway foreign bodies are a common condition in the emergency room, which can lead to death among different-aged populations, and a fast clinical recognition and management have led to improvement in the outcomes.

Objective: To present a clinical case of a male patient with an upper-airway foreign body, which only required clinical evaluation before surgical management.

Clinical case: We report the case of an 8-year-old Hispanic boy, who presented to the emergency room with upper respiratory symptoms, including dry cough, dysphagia, and chest discomfort; after clinical evaluation, a diagnosis of an upper-airway foreign body was made; the patient was taken to the operating room, and a tracheal foreign body was removed using rigid bronchoscopy. The post-operative course was uneventful, and the patient was discharged.

Discussion: The physiopathology, diagnosis, and management based on the presented case are discussed.

Conclusion: A good clinical history, along with a thorough physical examination and a high index of suspicion from the clinician, is enough for achieving a diagnosis, facilitating early management and reducing complications.