Pediatric bilateral vocal cord granulomas presenting as airway foreign body following prolonged intubation due to COVID-19 related multisystem inflammatory syndrome

Shah, Viraj N.; Suresh, Neeraj V.; Pasick, Luke J.; Ghiam, Michael K.; Torres, Leonardo A.

Background This report is a case of bilateral vocal cord granulomas (VCG) in a 9-year-old child presenting as an airway foreign body and stridor following f prolonged intubation due to COVID-19 pneumonia complicated by multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C). Case presentation This case reports a 9-year-old male who presented to the emergency department with acute stridor concerning for airway obstruction. X-ray findings suggested an airway foreign body; however, on rigid bronchoscopy, ball-valving bilateral VCG obstructing 90% of the glottic airway were identified. After excision of the VCGs, the patient's symptoms resolved with no postoperative complications. Conclusion With suspected foreign body aspiration in a pediatric patient with a history of prolonged intubation, it is important to consider a broad differential diagnosis. VCGs are rare complications of prolonged intubation that could be in children with prior history of intubation following COVID-19 pneumonia.