A Novel Two Surgeons Approach to Bronchial Foreign Body Removal by Optical Instruments- An 11 Years Institutional Experience

A potentially life-threatening emergency in ENT practice is the aspiration of tracheobronchial foreign body. This commonly affects young children and requires early extraction. Successful removal provides immediate relief. However procedural complications can cause devastating morbidity like anoxic encephalopathy or instant death. The aim of this study is to describe the experience in our institution with two surgeons approach for removal of tracheobronchial foreign bodies by telescope and optical forceps. This is an observational study from the period of March 2010 to April 2021 in which 96 patients (59 males, 37 females; age range 3 months to 15 years) were diagnosed with foreign body aspiration. In all cases rigid bronchoscopy and FB removal under general anaesthesia was performed using the two surgeons technique. This technique was instituted once Storz make paediatric telescope (2.9 mm diameter 36 cm length), optical grasping forceps and optical suction were procured in March 2010. Aspirated material was inorganic or organic with varying location in right main bronchus, left main bronchus or the trachea. We highlight the OT setup, surgical algorithm and the advantages of this technique. Visual and tactile coordination between the two surgeons being the crux of this procedure; allows hands on mentoring of the next generation of budding surgeons in a real-life scenario without compromising patient safety.