[Usefulness of flexible bronchoscopy for aspiration of foods into the tracheobronchial trees in 2 patients with severe motor and intellectual disabilities].

Two patients with severe motor and intellectual disabilities who suffered from acute asphyxia and respiratory failure due to aspiration of foods into the tracheobronchial trees were reported. Numerous food particles were found in the tracheobronchial trees of both the patients. One patient showed recurrent atelectasis at various sites. After oral intubation, flexible bronchoscopy could successfully remove food particles from the tracheobronchial trees in both the patients without any complications. A rigid bronchoscope is usually recommended for removal of foreign bodies from the airways in children. However, it is difficult to use in patients with severe motor and intellectual disabilities, because their airway may show deformation or the aspirated foods may enter the peripheral bronchi. Our cases suggest that flexible bronchoscopy can be useful for removing foreign bodies from the tracheobronchial trees in neurologically handicapped patients for whom rigid bronchoscopy can not be applied.