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Aspirated foreign bodies in children: why are they more commonly found on the left?

M A J Van Looij1, P P M Rood, L J Hoeve

  • 1Department of ENT, Erasmus MC Rotterdam, the Netherlands.

Clinical Otolaryngology and Allied Sciences
|July 23, 2003
PubMed

Insights

Pediatric foreign body aspiration shows equal distribution in main bronchi for children under 3 years old. Older children more frequently have foreign bodies in the right main bronchus, possibly due to infant handling techniques.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Otolaryngology
  • Pediatric Pulmonology

Background:

  • Foreign body aspiration is a common pediatric emergency.
  • Bronchoscopic removal is the standard treatment for inhaled foreign bodies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To analyze the experience with bronchoscopic removal of foreign bodies in children.
  • To determine the distribution and localization of aspirated foreign bodies in pediatric patients.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of medical records of 96 children.
  • Inclusion criteria: children undergoing bronchoscopy for suspected foreign body aspiration (1990-2000).
  • Data collected on confirmed diagnosis and foreign body localization.

Main Results:

  • Foreign bodies were equally distributed between left and right main bronchi in children under 3 years.
  • In children aged 3 and older, foreign bodies were more commonly found in the right main bronchus.
  • Confirmed foreign body aspiration in 96 pediatric patients.

Conclusions:

  • Age-dependent distribution of aspirated foreign bodies in the tracheobronchial tree.
  • The distribution pattern in younger children may be influenced by infant handling practices during choking incidents.

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