Prolonged Asymptomatic Tracheal Aspiration of a Small Bowel Capsule Endoscope

Aspiration into the respiratory tract is a rare complication of capsule endoscopy. We describe a patient whose small bowel capsule endoscopy was complicated by aspiration into the proximal trachea without apparent respiratory symptoms. Spontaneous expulsion of the capsule device through coughing occurred approximately 10 hours later.