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Updated: May 28, 2026
Systematic Bronchoscopy: the Four Landmarks Approach
Published on: June 23, 2023
[Rigid bronchoscopy for pin extraction in children at the Children's Hospital in Rabat, Morocco]
A El Koraïchi1, M Mokhtari, M El Haddoury
1Service de réanimation pédiatrique polyvalente, hôpital d'enfants de Rabat, BP 5071, Rabat, Morocco. dr_alae@hotmail.com
Insights
Pin inhalation is a common issue in young girls, often presenting with coughing. Rigid bronchoscopy under general anesthesia is a safe and effective method for pin extraction in children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Pulmonology
- Otolaryngology
- Emergency Medicine
Background:
- Inhaled foreign bodies pose a significant risk in pediatric populations.
- Pin inhalation is a specific and concerning type of airway foreign body.
Purpose of the Study:
- To detail the clinical and therapeutic aspects of pin inhalation in children.
- To evaluate the efficacy and safety of rigid bronchoscopy for pin extraction.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective study of 524 inhaled foreign body cases (2005-2010).
- Focused analysis on 36 cases of pin inhalation in a pediatric intensive care unit.
- Data collection on epidemiology, clinical presentation, treatment, and outcomes.
Main Results:
- 36 cases of pin inhalation identified, exclusively in females aged 10-15 years.
- Common symptoms included coughing and a stinging sensation; pins were most frequently lodged in the right airways.
- Rigid bronchoscopy achieved successful extraction in 63.8% of cases on the first attempt, with no severe complications or deaths.
Conclusions:
- Pin inhalation is prevalent among adolescent girls, necessitating targeted prevention strategies.
- Rigid bronchoscopy under general anesthesia is a safe and effective treatment for pin airway foreign bodies.
- Educational programs are crucial for reducing the incidence of pin inhalation.
Purpose:
The aim of this work is to present the clinical and therapeutic aspects of pin inhalation in the airways, as well as the benefit of rigid bronchoscopy for extraction in children.
Materials And Methods:
Five hundred and twenty-four cases of inhaled foreign body are identified in the multipurpose pediatric intensive care unit in the children's hospital in Rabat between January 2005 and December 2010. Thirty-six (6.8%) of them are due to pin inhalation. A retrospective study was conducted to define the epidemiological characteristics, clinical treatment and outcome of pin inhalation in the airways.
Results:
Thirty-six cases of pin inhalation are identified, all females. The age varies from 10 to 15 years. The consultation period is 2 days. Symptoms are dominated by coughing and stinging sensation. In 61.11% (22 cases), the pin is lodged in the right airways, in 22.22% (eight cases) in the left airways and in 5.5% (two cases) at the trachea. In 63.8% (23 cases), the pin is removed at the first attempt. We did not record any severe complications. No deaths recorded.
Conclusion:
Pin inhalation is a common occurrence in young girls. The extraction can be done safely by rigid bronchoscopy under general anesthesia. Particular attention should be paid to prevention and educational programs to reduce the incidence of pin inhalation.
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