WOFAPS 2025 8th World Congress of Pediatric Surgery

Gökhan Arkan, Gonca Güney Keçeli, Cem Kaya, Özlem Nur Yıldırım, Ramazan Karabulut, Zafer Türkyılmaz, Kaan Sönmez

Department of Pediatric Surgery, Gazi University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey

Introduction

Foreign body aspirations, particularly in young children, are a critical emergency with a 2.5% mortality rate and significant comorbidities. Bronchoscopy is generally required for diagnosis and treatment, although some cases may necessitate thoracotomy. This report presents a rare case of Hordeum murinum aspiration observed in our clinic. Due to the plant's high tissue penetration capability, it was undetectable during bronchoscopy and required thoracotomy.

Case Presentation

A 10-month-old male patient was referred to our clinic with recurrent cough and sputum complaints. Initial examination revealed decreased breath sounds in the left lung. Bronchoscopy did not detect a foreign body. However, persistent clinical symptoms led to thoracic ultrasound and CT, which identified a foreign body in the lower lobe of the left lung, necessitating thoracotomy. During surgery, the foreign body was found between the diaphragm and the left lower lung lobe and was removed. The patient was discharged without complications after completing antibiotic therapy.

Conclusion

Foreign body aspiration is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in children. Hordeum murinum, due to its high tissue penetration ability, can migrate from the bronchus to the pleura or skin, making it undetectable during bronchoscopy. Thus, in cases suspected of aspiration of this plant, more invasive diagnostic and therapeutic methods should be considered.