Plastic Shard Lodged in Infant's Vocal Cords Removed Successfully

A nine-month-old infant from Binyamina was rushed to Hillel Yaffe Medical Center after choking at home, followed by days of coughing and hoarseness. An initial X-ray revealed no foreign object, but further examination identified a piece of plastic from a ketchup packaging lodged between the baby's vocal cords. The infant underwent surgery and the object was successfully removed.

The incident began five days prior when the baby was playing on the floor at home and suddenly began to choke. Despite parental attempts to help by patting the baby's back, they did not notice any object being expelled. While the baby's breathing initially improved, persistent coughing and significant hoarseness followed.

Upon arrival at the hospital's pediatric emergency room, doctors suspected a foreign object in the respiratory tract. Although an X-ray was inconclusive, the medical team, prompted by the choking incident and lingering symptoms, proceeded with further investigation. The baby was referred to the Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) and Head and Neck Surgery department.

"The baby might appear completely calm and breathing well, but when he coughed, we clearly heard it was an unusual cough," stated Dr. Tali Teitelbaum, a physician in the department. "The sudden choking incident, along with the hoarseness and unusual cough, without any infection symptoms, raised suspicion of a foreign body, so we decided to proceed quickly with an examination."

Using a small camera inserted through the nose, doctors observed a red, centimeter-long object stuck vertically between the vocal cords, later identified as a piece of plastic from ketchup sauce packaging. This vertical position allowed air to pass, but Dr. Teitelbaum warned that any shift could have caused significant airway obstruction. The baby was immediately taken to surgery, where Professor Yitzhak Breverman, head of ENT and Head and Neck Surgery, successfully removed the plastic shard. A subsequent scan of the airways confirmed no other foreign objects remained.

Professors Breverman and Dr. Teitelbaum emphasized the importance of medical evaluation for persistent symptoms like unusual coughing, new hoarseness, or breathing changes after a choking incident, especially if accompanied by drooling or uncertainty about whether the child ingested something. The infant remained hospitalized for observation and was later discharged in good condition, with his parents expressing gratitude to the hospital staff.