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Published on: September 11, 2018

Tracheobronchial foreign bodies in children

J H Ben Amer1, C Kareemullah, M H Ben Amer

  • 1Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Garyounis, Benghazi, Libya.

Saudi Medical Journal
|August 14, 2001
PubMed

Insights

Rigid bronchoscopy is a safe procedure for children with persistent respiratory symptoms. This expert-performed intervention is recommended when cough, infection, or stridor do not improve with antibiotics.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Pulmonology
  • Thoracic Surgery
  • Pediatric Otolaryngology

Background:

  • Persistent cough, chest infection, or stridor in children often warrant further investigation beyond standard antibiotic therapy.
  • Foreign body aspiration is a common cause of such symptoms in pediatric patients.
  • Rigid bronchoscopy is a diagnostic and therapeutic tool for evaluating the tracheobronchial tree.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the safety and efficacy of rigid bronchoscopy in pediatric patients.
  • To determine the diagnostic yield of rigid bronchoscopy for foreign bodies in children.
  • To establish indications for rigid bronchoscopy in pediatric respiratory conditions.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective review of 534 pediatric bronchoscopies performed between August 1988 and May 1995.
  • Analysis of patient demographics, including age and sex distribution.
  • Documentation of findings, including presence and location of foreign bodies.

Main Results:

  • Rigid bronchoscopy identified foreign bodies in 332 out of 534 cases (62.2%).
  • The right bronchus was the most common site for foreign body impaction.
  • Peanuts were the most frequently encountered foreign body type.
  • The procedure demonstrated a high diagnostic yield in identifying tracheobronchial abnormalities.

Conclusions:

  • Rigid bronchoscopy is a safe and effective procedure when performed by experienced specialists in children.
  • It is indicated for pediatric patients with persistent respiratory symptoms unresponsive to antibiotics.
  • Early consideration of rigid bronchoscopy can aid in the diagnosis and management of foreign body aspiration.
Abstract

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