Evaluation of pulmonary reexpansion in a porcine model of bronchial foreign body.

We have established a model of reversible bronchial FB obstruction in pigs that is both feasible and appropriate for evaluating the long-term process of pulmonary reexpansion after removal of FB. Bronchial metal FB retention for a period of 2 weeks could form atelectasis, and a natural pulmonary recovery process related to atelectasis takes approximately 4 weeks after removal of metal FB.