Endoscopic Removal of an Intrabronchial Foreign Body Using Single-Use Flexible Bronchoscopy in an Older Adult: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Foreign body aspiration (FBA) is less common in adults than in children and occurs predominantly in older individuals with predisposing risk factors.Depending on the anatomical location of the foreign body within the tracheobronchial tree, it may cause life-threatening airway obstruction or lead to a wide range of clinical manifestations and complications, the occurrence of which largely depends on the duration of impaction.We report the case of a 74-year-old woman who was admitted with acute respiratory distress following the accidental aspiration of a solid food bolus.The initial choking episode resolved spontaneously but subsequently progressed to complete obstruction of the left main bronchus.The foreign body was successfully removed using a single-use flexible bronchoscope (Ambu® aScope 4 Broncho; Ambu A/S, Denmark) approximately one hour after emergency department admission and six hours after the patient's last meal.This case highlights the safety and effectiveness of flexible bronchoscopy for the emergency removal of tracheobronchial foreign bodies.It also underscores the clinical value of single-use flexible bronchoscopy when rigid bronchoscopy is unavailable, allowing prompt management while avoiding the need for interhospital transfer to a tertiary care center.