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Updated: Dec 29, 2025

Handheld Metal Detector Screening for Metallic Foreign Body Ingestion in Children
Published on: September 11, 2018
Foreign body aspiration in a child with cardiac arrest
1Tim R. George is an active duty US Air Force PA in emergency medicine at Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, Miss. The author has disclosed no potential conflicts of interest, financial or otherwise.
Insights
Foreign body aspiration is a medical emergency, often seen in children, and can lead to respiratory failure. Prompt diagnosis and removal, typically with rigid bronchoscopy, are crucial for patient survival.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Emergency Medicine
- Pulmonology
Background:
- Foreign body aspiration is a significant cause of unintentional injury mortality in the US.
- It presents a diagnostic challenge due to varied clinical manifestations.
Observation:
- Children aspirating foreign bodies can exhibit symptoms ranging from mild cough to severe respiratory distress.
- Delayed diagnosis can lead to serious complications, including respiratory failure.
Findings:
- Rigid bronchoscopy is the primary treatment for foreign body removal.
- High clinical suspicion is essential for timely diagnosis.
Implications:
- Early recognition and intervention are critical for preventing mortality and morbidity associated with foreign body aspiration.
- Enhanced clinician awareness can improve patient outcomes in suspected cases of foreign body ingestion or inhalation.
Abstract:
Foreign body aspiration is a true medical emergency and is the fifth most common cause of mortality due to unintentional injury in the United States. Children who have aspirated a foreign body may present with a variety of symptoms, from mild irritation and cough to respiratory failure. Treatment is removal of the foreign body, often via rigid bronchoscopy. Clinicians must have a high degree of suspicion to ensure a foreign body aspiration is not missed on initial presentation.
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