Foreign Body Aspiration in Children and Emergency Rigid Bronchoscopy: A Retrospective Observational Study

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Pulmonology
• Emergency Medicine
• Otolaryngology

Background:

• Foreign body aspiration poses a significant life-threatening risk in children.
• Early diagnosis and intervention are critical for positive outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To outline the challenges encountered during emergency pediatric rigid bronchoscopy.
• To present the experience and outcomes of 138 pediatric patients.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 138 children under 12 years with suspected foreign body aspiration.
• Data collection included patient demographics, symptoms, clinical signs, radiological findings, and procedural outcomes.

Main Results:

• Organic foreign bodies, particularly peanuts, were most commonly aspirated.
• Common symptoms included choking, cough, and sudden breathlessness; signs included tachypnea and asymmetric breath sounds.
• Obstructive emphysema was the most frequent radiological finding. Most patients recovered within 72 hours, with a low mortality rate.

Conclusions:

• Clinical history, physical examination, and imaging are highly suggestive of airway foreign bodies.
• Despite inherent risks, rigid bronchoscopy, when performed by experienced teams with adequate support, effectively saves lives in pediatric tracheobronchial foreign body cases.