Unexpected Image in the Lung: Pea Successfully Removed

The patient, who has been diagnosed with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) for a long time and whose complaints persisted despite the treatments he was receiving, was evaluated in Pamukkale University Hospitals Chest Diseases clinic for coil (smart coiled wire) treatment, which is one of the bronchoscopic volume reduction procedures performed by a small number of centers in our country. Before the coil application in the patient whose preparations were completed, an unexpected image was encountered during the fiberoptic bronchoscopy procedure performed by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Erhan Uğurlu, a faculty member of the Department of Chest Diseases, to visualize the airways. A pea grain was seen in the patient's right lung, blocking the airway. The pea, which could be completely removed by the experienced team with the appropriate material and maneuver, also surprised the patient. After successful foreign body removal, the patient underwent bronchoscopic volume reduction coil application. Providing information after two successful procedures, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Erhan Uğurlu pointed out that although foreign body leakage into the lung called aspiration is generally expected in children, it can also be seen in adults at low rates. Uğurlu warned that foreign body aspirations, which cause obstruction in a small airway due to a pea grain and do not cause symptoms in the patient, can cause complaints such as cough, sputum, wheezing; It can also lead to undesirable conditions such as pneumonia and lung deflation.
The patient, who underwent bronchoscopic volume-reducing coil treatment for COPD and the pea grain that went into his lung was removed, expressed his gratitude to the whole team, especially the Department of Chest Diseases Faculty Member Assoc. Prof. Dr. Erhan Uğurlu, and the patient, who had no problems in follow-up after the procedures, was discharged to come for checkup.