Nasopharyngeal airway aspiration: An uncommon cause of sudden respiratory distress in hospitalized patients

Kosar Hussain; Sara Hussain; Jawed Abubaker; Raees Ahmed

doi:10.1016/j.tjem.2018.03.004

Kosar Hussain¹, Sara Hussain², Jawed Abubaker³, Raees Ahmed⁴

¹General Medicine, Goulburn Valley Health, Victoria, Australia
²Intern, Rashid Hospital, Dubai Health Authority, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
³Ziauddin Medical University, Karachi, Pakistan
⁴Diagnostic Group, Beaumont, TX, USA

Keywords: Nasopharyngeal airway; Aspiration; Respiratory distress; X-ray

Abstract

An elderly, bed ridden patient with a history of stroke was admitted for management of aspiration pneumonia. Two days after insertion of a nasopharyngeal airway, sudden respiratory distress prompted further investigations which led to the eventual diagnosis and removal of the nasopharyngeal airway that had been aspirated. The device was removed under conscious sedation with fiber optic bronchoscopy.