Foreign Body Aspiration: The Daily PANCE Blueprint

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Foreign Body Aspiration: The Daily PANCE Blueprint

A 3-year-old boy is brought to the emergency department by his parents because he has been coughing persistently for the past hour. His parents report that he was playing with small toy parts when he suddenly began to cough and appeared to be choking, although he was able to cry immediately after the episode. On examination, the child is afebrile, with a respiratory rate of 30 breaths/min, and oxygen saturation of 98% on room air. Physical examination reveals decreased breath sounds in the right lower lung field. Chest radiography is ordered. Which of the following is the most likely finding on this child's chest radiograph?

A. Air-fluid levels in the right lower lung field
B. Bilateral perihilar infiltrates
C. Hyperinflation of the right lung
D. Left-sided pleural effusion
E. Normal chest radiograph

Answer and topic summary

The answer is C. Hyperinflation of the right lung

When a foreign body is aspirated into the airways, it most commonly lodges in the right main bronchus due to its more vertical orientation compared to the left. This can lead to a ventilation obstruction, causing trapped air distal to the obstruction and resultant hyperinflation of the affected lung area on chest radiography.

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Smarty PANCE Content Blueprint Review:

Covered under ⇒ PANCE Blueprint Pulmonary ⇒ Other Pulmonary Disease ⇒ Foreign body aspiration

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