Airway calcium pill aspiration syndrome

Pill aspiration is an uncommon but potentially life-threatening form of foreign body aspiration that requires prompt recognition and intervention. Unlike other aspirated materials, pills can cause unique airway reactions depending on their composition, solubility and coating, which may complicate both diagnosis and management. We report the case of a male patient in his early 70s who presented with acute cough and shortness of breath for 2 days following ingestion of his routine nighttime medications. High-resolution CT of the chest revealed a hyperdense lesion within the right bronchus intermedius. Flexible bronchoscopy under general anaesthesia confirmed the presence of a foreign body, which was successfully extracted in toto using a cryoprobe via rigid bronchoscopy. The retrieved object was identified as an aspirated calcium tablet. This case underscores the importance of considering pill aspiration in the differential diagnosis of elderly patients with acute respiratory symptoms after medication intake and highlights the role of bronchoscopic techniques in ensuring definitive diagnosis and safe retrieval.