Long‐term endotracheal tube foreign object and aspiration pneumonia following general anaesthesia in a dog

Abstract

A 7‐year‐old, male, neutered German shepherd dog presented to the emergency room with a 5‐day history of respiratory distress, vomiting and hyporexia after an anaesthetised computed tomography and deep ear flush. The dog presented febrile (104.1°F), tachypnoeic (60 breaths per minute) and in respiratory distress. The dog was hospitalised on intravenous antibiotics and oxygen therapy. Radiographs were obtained 30 hours after presentation, which revealed a remnant of an endotracheal tube within the airway as well as aspiration pneumonia. Removal of the foreign object was successful using a rigid bronchoscope. The dog was discharged with supportive care and antibiotics, and continued to do well 9 months after the iatrogenic foreign body removal. This case report describes the retention of a large piece of an endotracheal tube for the longest period described in literature (6 days).