Diagnosis and management of upper aerodigestive tract foreign bodies

Although often listed together in review articles and case series, tracheobronchial and esophageal foreign bodies can be dissimilar. Airway foreign bodies can range widely in the severity of presentation. When to proceed with a diagnostic bronchoscopy is not always obvious and is based on three diagnostic tools: clinical history, physical examination, and radiography. Radiography plays a more central role in the diagnosis of an esophageal foreign body. In either condition, a delay in diagnosis leads to a greater complication rate. This article provides diagnostic and treatment guidelines in the management of aerodigestive foreign bodies.