The first case of dental floss pick-related injury presenting with massive hemoptysis: a case report

IntroductionA tracheobronchial foreign body is a rarely mentioned cause of massive hemoptysis. Although an aspirated toothpick is a well-known cause of traumatic injury to the respiratory tract, a similar device called a dental floss pick, which is much larger than a toothpick, has never been described as a tracheobronchial foreign body.Case presentationWe report a case of massive hemoptysis in a 32-year-old man due to a dental floss pick in the left main bronchus .

Flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy was successful in removing the foreign body.

Conclusion: Tracheobronchial foreign body can be a medical emergency requiring immediate intervention and massive hemoptysis may be the presenting symptom. Flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy is recommended as the first-line treatment modality for tracheobronchial foreign body removal.

A dental floss pick may present as a tracheobronchial foreign body and can reside in the airway asymptomatically for many years.

Author: Chun-Ta Huang, Chao-Chi Ho, Yi-Ju Tsai and Pan-Chyr Yang
Credits/Source: Journal of Medical Case Reports 2008, 2:78

Published on: 2008-03-11

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