Tooth aspiration in a patient with traumatic brain injury

Abstract

Tooth aspiration is a rare issue in the course of patients with trauma and may remain undiagnosed for a long period, resulting in delayed complications, such as atelectasis and recurrent infections. Flexible bronchoscopy is considered the preferred primary procedure for the management of airway foreign bodies in adults. However, it may cause intracranial hypertension in trauma patients with concomitant head injuries. We herein report a case of a patient with traumatic brain injury who underwent tooth aspiration using flexible bronchoscopy, with continuous monitoring of intracranial pressure (ICP). The importance of a thorough review of radiographs and chest computed tomography for foreign body aspiration in trauma patients was highlighted, particularly in a maxillofacial trauma, as tooth aspiration may remain undiagnosed for extended periods. Moreover, the difficulty in maintaining the ICP within normal limits during bronchoscopy in patients with traumatic brain injury was reinstated, and the need for continuous monitoring of the cerebral hemodynamics and harmonization was emphasized, with recommendations for bronchoscopy via an endotracheal tube.