[Diagnosis and therapy of bronchial foreign body in aged patients]

To explore the proper diagnosis and therapy method in aged patients with bronchial foreign body.

A retrospective analysis was performed on 15 aged patients with bronchial foreign body by clinical characteristics. The experience of diagnosis and therapy in these cases were summarized.

Misdiagnosed or missed diagnosis were found in 6 of 15 aged patients with bronchial foreign body. Three bronchial foreign bodies were taken out successfully under topical anesthesia. Twelve bronchial foreign bodies were taken out under topical anesthesia and balanced anesthesia. No complications happened in all case.

Clinical manifestation of bronchial foreign body is often unrepresentative in most aged patients. The chest X-ray of most cases can not show actual appearance of foreign bodies. In addition, history of foreign body in bronchus is often uncertain. So bronchial foreign bodies have often been misdiagnosed or missed diagnosed in aged patients. Suitable anesthesia method is the key to taking out bronchial foreign body in aged patients.