Related Experiment Videos

Foreign body aspiration in children

Fabio Midulla1, Roberto Guidi, Angelo Barbato

  • 1Department of Pediatric Emergency, University La Sapienza of Rome, Rome, Italy. midulla@uniroma1.it

Pediatrics International : Official Journal of the Japan Pediatric Society
|December 16, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Clinical symptoms and radiological findings have low diagnostic value for diagnosing foreign body aspiration (FBA) in children. Pre-bronchoscopy evaluations are often insufficient for confirming FBA, necessitating further diagnostic steps.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Pulmonology
  • Diagnostic Imaging
  • Emergency Medicine

Background:

  • Foreign body aspiration (FBA) is a common pediatric emergency.
  • Accurate diagnosis of FBA is crucial for timely intervention.
  • Pre-bronchoscopy clinical and radiological findings are often used to guide diagnosis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the diagnostic utility of physical and radiological findings preceding bronchoscopy in suspected pediatric foreign body aspiration.
  • To determine the sensitivity and specificity of clinical signs and imaging in diagnosing FBA.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective review of clinical records for 82 pediatric patients with suspected foreign body aspiration.
  • Analysis of physical examination findings and chest X-ray results.
  • Correlation of findings with confirmed foreign body retrieval via bronchoscopy.

Main Results:

  • Foreign body aspiration was confirmed in 70 children (85.4%), predominantly those under 3 years old.
  • Common symptoms included persistent cough (75%) and decreased breath sounds (62.8%).
  • Radiological findings like air trapping (43.6%) and atelectasis (40%) were frequent, but chest X-rays were normal in 20% of cases.

Conclusions:

  • Clinical symptoms and radiological findings alone possess limited diagnostic value for foreign body aspiration in children.
  • The sensitivity of clinical findings was poor, despite a high positive predictive value.
  • Radiological findings showed moderate sensitivity (80%) but low specificity (33%) for diagnosing FBA.
Abstract

Related Concept Videos

Endoscopic Studies II: Thoracocentesis01:26

Endoscopic Studies II: Thoracocentesis

Thoracentesis(Thoracocentesis), commonly known as pleural tap, is a medical procedure where a 22 gauge needle is inserted into the pleural space, the area between the lung and chest wall. This procedure is commonly performed to diagnose or treat various respiratory disorders.
Description
Excess pleural fluid or air may accumulate in some respiratory disorders in the thoracic cavity. To treat pleural effusion, a physician conducts thoracentesis by carefully piercing the chest wall and entering...
Pneumonia I: Introduction01:30

Pneumonia I: Introduction

Pneumonia is an acute respiratory infection that targets the lungs, specifically the alveoli. These tiny air sacs, essential for oxygen exchange, become engorged with pus and fluid, severely hindering breathing, decreasing oxygen absorption, and causing significant pain and discomfort during respiration.
Risk Factors
Various factors influence the likelihood of developing pneumonia. Age plays a crucial role, with infants, children under two, and individuals over 65 at increased risk due to their...
Endoscopic Studies I: Bronchoscopy and Thoracoscopy01:30

Endoscopic Studies I: Bronchoscopy and Thoracoscopy

Endoscopy is a non-surgical medical technique used to examine a person's internal organs and vessels. This lesson will focus on two types of endoscopic studies: bronchoscopy and thoracoscopy.
Bronchoscopy
Description
Bronchoscopy is a procedure that involves direct visualization of the larynx, trachea, and bronchi for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. A flexible fiber optic or rigid bronchoscope is used to carry out the procedure. The fiber-optic bronchoscope is more frequently used due to...
Suctioning the Oropharyngeal Airway01:25

Suctioning the Oropharyngeal Airway

In preparing for oropharyngeal airway suctioning, a nurse must gather all necessary equipment, including a suction unit with tubing, a prepackaged suction kit, sterile gloves, water or saline for irrigation, a water-soluble lubricant, and additional personal protective equipment (such as a gown, mask, and goggles) to control infections.
After assembling the equipment, the nurse should practice hand hygiene and don appropriate PPE according to infection control guidelines to avoid the...
Suctioning the Nasopharyngeal Airway01:29

Suctioning the Nasopharyngeal Airway

Nasopharyngeal suctioning is a procedure to remove secretions from the upper part of the respiratory tract that the patient cannot clear independently. It helps maintain airway patency and prevents complications such as aspiration pneumonia.
Equipment Required
Sputum Studies II: Culture and Sensitivity01:20

Sputum Studies II: Culture and Sensitivity

Description
Sputum culture and sensitivity is a medical procedure used to diagnose bacterial infections in the respiratory tract and select the most appropriate antibiotics for treatment. This process involves analyzing sputum samples of thick and opaque secretions produced in the lungs and airways. These samples are collected from patients and then sent to the laboratory for analysis.
The test can identify various pathogens responsible for respiratory infections, including Streptococcus,...