An unusual way of tracheal stoma cleaning could end up with foreign body aspiration in a laryngectomized patient

Abstract

We report a case of a laryngectomized patient who accidentally aspirated a wooden stick through his tracheal stoma in highly unusual circumstances. He was in a habit of cleaning secretions of upper airway with a wooden stick covered with cotton on the tip soaked in olive oil, via tracheostomy. After applying topical aerolized lidocaine spray through the tracheostomy stoma a flexible video-brochoscopy was performed and a tree twig over 11 cm in length was removed. The patient's symptoms were resolved by a bronchoscopy. With experience and availability of accessories, the removal of the foreign body using flexible bronchoscope under local anesthesia can be performed safely and successfully. This case suggests that the physicians and otolaryngologists should educate their laryngectomized patients about stomal care and discuss any potential life-threatening situation they might encounter.