Airway foreign body removal by flexible bronchoscopy: experience with 1027 children during 2000-2008

Foreign body aspiration (FBA) into the tracheobronchial tree is a common problem in children necessitating prompt recognition and management. This study aimed to report our experience in airway foreign body removal by flexible bronchoscopy in children.

A total of 1027 patients with FBA were reviewed retrospectively. They were 626 boys and 401 girls aged from 5 months to 14 years with a median age of 17 months. The clinical manifestations, radiological findings, bronchoscopic findings and complications of the procedure were analyzed.

Among the patients, only 53.4% had a definite history of FBA. The most frequent symptom was paroxysmal cough (84.3%), followed by stridor or wheezing, fever and dyspnea. Chest X-ray showed emphysema in 68.8% of the patients, atelectasis in 13.3% and bronchopneumonia in 56.3%. A bronchoscope was inserted intranasally in most children, but through mouth and endotracheal tube in 17 and 3 children, respectively. Foreign bodies were removed successfully by flexible bronchoscopy with disposable grasping forceps or biopsy forceps in 938 (91.3%) of the patients. The other 89 patients turned to rigid bronchoscopy. During the procedures, 132 (12.9%) of the patients showed transient hypoxia, which was alleviated by oxygen supplement and/or temporary cessation of the procedure. A small amount of bleeding was found in 17 patients and bradycardia in 3. Air leak and laryngeal edema were noted in 2 patients and relieved within 24 hours.

Flexible bronchoscopy is useful and safe in retrieving airway foreign bodies in children. With skilled personnel and perfect equipments, flexible bronchoscopy could be considered as the first choice for the removal of airway foreign body.