The illuminated airway: flexible bronchoscopic removal of an aspirated LED bulb in an adolescent boy

AbstractBackgroundForeign body aspiration is a common but serious pediatric medical emergency. A high index of suspicion, timely diagnosis and early bronchoscopic intervention can be life-saving in most cases.Case presentationWe report the case of a 12-year-old boy who was symptomatic with recurrent chest infections for the last 3 years. Imaging identified a radio-opaque FB in the left mainstem bronchus. Subsequently, flexible bronchoscopic evaluation was performed under general anesthesia using laryngeal mask airway, and a light-emitting diode bulb was retrieved using flexible biopsy forceps.ConclusionThe case highlights aspiration of a rare foreign body that went unnoticed for a long duration in a relatively higher pediatric age group child, and also emphasizes the role of bronchoscopy in managing the condition.