A 46-year-old male was admitted to intensive care unit due to falling into cement slurry. Lung computed tomography showed the inner side of the trachea wall was surrounded by high-density shadow with irregular surface and there were extensive lesions in the alveoli (Fig. 1A, B). Subsequently, fiberoptic bronchoscopy confirmed the high-density shadow attached to the tracheal wall were solidified cements (Fig. 1C and supplement video) and then the cements were removed by tracheoscopic biopsy forceps. Besides, sputum suction and bronchoalveolar lavage were performed. The sputum (Fig. 1D, E) and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid mixed with black particles were harvested, which confirmed the presence of cement particles in the alveoli. Bronchoalveolar lavages once a day were performed to remove cement particles aspirated into the lungs for one month. The patient was eventually discharged from hospital and four months later, a fiberoptic bronchoscopy at follow-up showed the mucosa was almost normal (Fig. 1F).

Fig. 1
figure 1

A, B The lung CT scan at admission, red arrows mark showed the high-density shadows surrounding the inner side of the trachea wall. C Cement solidified in the tracheal wall was observed by fiberoptic bronchoscopy. D, E The sputum of the patient. F The figure of the airway via fiberoptic bronchoscopy at follow-up 4 months later

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Aspiration of cement slurry is rare and can be life-threatening. In this case, the removal of foreign bodies in the lungs by fiberoptic bronchoscopy saved the patient's life.