Inadvertent drug plastic foil aspiration mimicking status asthmaticus

Nwafor CC; Onwuka CO; Keshinro SO; Kudamnya IJ; Okafor CI

doi:10.61386/imj.v17i3.529

Authors

Nwafor CC Department of Pathology, University of Uyo, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria
Onwuka CO Department of Histopathology, University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State
Keshinro SO Force Pathologist Office, Nigeria Police Force Ikoyi, Lagos
Kudamnya IJ Department of Pathology, University of Uyo, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria
Okafor CI Department of Histopathology, University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.61386/imj.v17i3.529

Keywords:

Foreign body impaction, FBI, drug plastic foil, laryngeal laceration, laryngeal spasms, laryngotracheobronchitis, vagal inhibition asphyxia, violent asphyxia

Abstract

Background: Violent asphyxia is mechanical obstruction, resulting in generalized hypoxia, and can result in death of the victim.

Case report: A 28-year-old non-asthmatic male presented with a day history of difficulty in breathing. He also had a history of aspiration of some unknown drugs (one of them together with the plastic foil) two weeks prior to presentation. On the second day of admission, he became restless, slumped and died. A post mortem examination showed a drug plastic foil imparted in a lacerated infraglottic portion of the larynx. The cause of death was concluded as violent asphyxia (choking), due to drug plastic foil impaction.

Conclusion: In addition to the numerous list of materials that can cause FBI is drug plastic foil. if not removed on time causes impaction and laryngeal laceration, laryngeal spasms, laryngotracheobronchitis, vagal inhibition asphyxia and death.