[Indications of bronchial endoscopy in suspected tracheo-bronchial foreign body in children]

The diagnosis and early extraction of a respiratory foreign body (FB) in a child requires a rapid bronchoscopy. Thus, the possibility of a foreign body requires an endoscopy even in the absence of clinical or radiological signs. While the sensitivity of "the foreign body syndrome" is important (79-85%) its specificity is low (21-46%) which results in numerous endoscopies which do not show FB. This justifies the promotion of flexible fibroscopy, under a simple local anaesthesia of the upper airways and some sedation, each time that the foreign body is not obvious. That is when there is an absence of a radio-opaque foreign body (2-20% of cases) or an absence of associated unilateral diminution in breath sounds or ipsilateral obstructive emphysema (a positive predicted value of 94%, 95% confidence interval: 71-100%). The complications of flexible fibroscopy are rare but still justify its performance in an environment where there is resuscitation equipment and the possibility of rapidly performing a rigid bronchoscopy. Rigid bronchoscopy, which requires a general anaesthesia, remains the best technique to remove a foreign body in a child. It is also indicated initially in cases of respiratory distress where there is a fear of a foreign body in the trachea. The extraction of the CE by flexible fibroscopy under general anaesthesia has been reported in children but it is more difficult and more risky.