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07:31
Image Acquisition using Portable Sonography for Emergency Airway Management
Published on: September 28, 2022
Tracheal foreign bodies: are radiographs misleading?
Alice E Chang1, Kevin D Pereira
1Department of Otorhinolaryngology-HNS, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.
Pediatric Emergency Care
|April 6, 2013
Summary
Radiographs can miss dangerous upper airway foreign bodies in children. Biphasic stridor and a history of aspiration warrant endoscopic airway evaluation to prevent severe outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Pulmonology
- Pediatric Emergency Medicine
- Otolaryngology
Background:
- Upper airway foreign bodies in children pose significant diagnostic challenges.
- Reliance on standard radiographic imaging can lead to missed or delayed diagnoses.
Observation:
- A case series of two pediatric patients with upper tracheal foreign bodies was reviewed.
- Both patients presented with biphasic stridor unresponsive to treatment, despite normal chest radiographs.
- One patient had a witnessed aspiration history; the other did not.
Findings:
- Normal radiographs are common in cases of upper tracheal foreign bodies.
- Biphasic stridor is a key clinical indicator, irrespective of aspiration history.
- Endoscopic removal successfully treated both patients without long-term complications.
Implications:
- Clinical presentation, particularly biphasic stridor, is crucial for diagnosis.
- Endoscopic airway evaluation should be considered in suspected cases to avoid critical delays.
- Prompt diagnosis and intervention are vital for preventing severe consequences of airway foreign bodies.
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