Accidental Foreign Body Near-aspiration in a Neonate—An Unexpected Cause in the NICU

Foreign body aspiration (FBA) is a frequent entity in infants and toddlers, but very rare in neonates. We present an unusual case of a term neonate, who developed sudden desaturation and worsening respiratory distress with stridor, during the course of hospitalization in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. A pre-intubation bronchoscopic evaluation revealed a foreign object (“luer-lock” plug of an intravenous cannula), which was seen in the laryngopharynx, partially obstructing the cords, leading to severe respiratory distress. This was removed by forceps, with a resultant dramatic improvement. This case highlights the possibility of the accidental aspiration of a commonly used piece of medical equipment in the NICU and emphasizes the need for extreme vigilance on the part of healthcare workers and providers in the prevention of such events.