Aspirated Foreign Body in a Laryngectomized Patient: Case Report and Literature Review

Abstract

The presence of a permanent tracheal stoma in a laryngectomized adult is a predisposing factor for foreign-body aspiration, as are conditions that impair normal protective airway mechanisms. Such an aspiration can cause significant morbidity if it is not properly managed. The use of rigid bronchoscopy to remove an aspirated object can be difficult in these patients, and a high percentage of them require thoracotomy, especially for the removal of sharp objects. An emphasis on patient education regarding the handling of objects around the stoma in laryngectomized adults is key to preventing aspiration and its complications.