Abstract

RODA, Juliana et al. Foreign bodies in the airway: A quarter of a century’s experience. Rev Port Pneumol [online]. 2008, vol.14, n.6, pp.787-802. ISSN 0873-2159.

Introduction: Foreign body (FB) aspiration in children is a common and potentially dangerous situation that can be associated to significant morbidity. Aims: To characterise the FB aspiration in children cases at the Hospital Pediátrico de Coimbra over a twenty five year period. Study design: This study was based on the retrospective analysis of all clinical files of children who were diagnosed with foreign body aspiration January 1982 to December 2006. Results: Foreign body aspiration was confirmed in 316 children. The incidence was higher during the first twelve years of the study (64%). Around two thirds of the children were male (206) and the sample was aged 6 months to 12 years. Most children were younger than 3 years old (83%). In 88% of cases a choking episode was noticed while an early diagnosis (<24h) was obtained in only 39%. The most frequently described signs and symptoms were unilateral diminished breath sounds and cough. In 7% of cases no symptoms were described. The most frequently recorded radiology finding was focal hyperinflation (42%) and in 22% the chest x-ray was unremarkable. Treatment was exclusively by rigid bronchoscopy. Complications related to the bronchoscopy removal were described in 22 cases. Most aspirated FB were of vegetable origin (75%). The majority of FB was lodged in the right bronchial tree. Postremoval flexible bronchoscopy was performed in 116 cases. Conclusion: An unnoticed FB aspiration and absence of and/or non-specific initial symptoms may contribute to a late diagnosis. The significant reduction in the number of cases over the later years may be related to the implementation of preventive strategies.

Keywords : Foreign body; aspiration; paediatrics; bronchoscopy; airway.

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