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Demographic and Clinical Findings in Children Undergoing Bronchoscopy for Foreign Body Aspiration
Mojgan Safari1, Mohammad Reza Hashemi Manesh2
1Department of Pediatrics, Immunology and Allergy Ward, Besat Hospital, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran ; Department of Pediatrics, Immunology and Allergy Ward, Besat Hospital, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran.
Insights
Foreign body aspiration (FBA) in children often presents with challenging symptoms and delayed diagnosis. Bronchoscopy is a low-risk, definitive method for diagnosing FBA, crucial for timely treatment and preventing serious outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Pulmonology
- Emergency Medicine
- Diagnostic Procedures
Background:
- Foreign body aspiration (FBA) poses a significant risk of airway distress, mortality, and morbidity in children.
- Delayed diagnosis of FBA can lead to severe, long-term health consequences.
- Accurate and timely diagnosis is critical for effective management of pediatric FBA.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the diagnostic challenges and outcomes of foreign body aspiration in pediatric patients.
- To evaluate the role of bronchoscopy as a definitive diagnostic tool for suspected FBA.
- To identify common symptoms and types of foreign bodies associated with FBA in children.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of medical records for 89 children who underwent bronchoscopy for suspected FBA.
- Collection of demographic, clinical, and treatment data.
- Confirmation of FBA diagnosis in 51 patients.
Main Results:
- Choking, chronic cough, wheezing, cyanosis, and dyspnea were the most frequent symptoms.
- Common foreign bodies included seeds (39.2%).
- Foreign bodies were most frequently located in the left bronchus (45.1%) and right bronchus (35.3%).
Conclusions:
- Incomplete medical history is a primary reason for delayed FBA diagnosis.
- Bronchoscopy is the definitive diagnostic method for FBA with low complication rates.
- Early bronchoscopy in suspected FBA cases is recommended to prevent diagnostic delays and ensure prompt treatment.
Background:
Foreign body aspiration (FBA) is a significant cause of airway distress, mortality, and morbidity in children. Diagnosis of FBA can be challenging and is sometimes delayed for weeks or even months. If not diagnosed and treated promptly, FBA can result in serious consequences.
Methods:
For this retrospective study, we investigated the medical records of 89 children who underwent bronchoscopy for suspected FBA and recorded relevant demographic, clinical, and treatment data.
Results:
Of the 89 patients identified for this study, 51 had a definitive diagnosis of FBA. Among these patients, choking, chronic cough and wheezing, cyanosis, and dyspnea were the most frequent symptoms of FBA. The foreign bodies were located in the left bronchus (45.1%), the right bronchus (35.3%), the trachea (15.7%), and in both the right and left bronchi (3.9%). Seeds were the most prevalent foreign body, found in 39.2% of the patients.
Conclusion:
Lack of complete medical history in patients with suspected FBA is one of the main causes of delayed FBA diagnosis. Bronchoscopy is considered the definitive diagnostic method for FBA and should be conducted in all patients with suspected FBA because of the low risk of complications and reduced probability that FBA diagnosis and treatment will be delayed.
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