Spontaneous Expulsion of Foreign Body Bronchus: Understanding the Mechanism

Foreign Body (FB) aspiration pose a challenge to the otolaryngologist of its early diagnosis along with safe removal. Almost all airway foreign bodies require bronchoscopy and removal. Very rarely, spontaneous expulsion of bronchial FB may happen. We are reporting one such case of spontaneous expulsion of a metallic FB from right main bronchus in a fourteen-year-old boy. The mainstay of treatment for FB bronchus is bronchoscopic removal. Spontaneous expulsion occurs very rarely & may be associated with life threatening complications. Impaction of FB in sub glottis may lead to sudden choking & death. In this report we also have tried to provide insight into the physics and physiological mechanism facilitating spontaneous expulsion of a bronchial foreign body.