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[Tracheo-bronchial foreign bodies in the child. Analysis of 43 cases (author's transl)]
Insights
Foreign bodies in the respiratory tract predominantly affect infants aged 1-2 years, with organic materials like peanuts being common culprits. Male infants are more frequently affected, and while rare, complications and fatalities can occur.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Pulmonology
- Emergency Medicine
Context:
- A 20-year retrospective study was conducted at the University Pediatric Clinic of Kinshasa.
- This study analyzed 43 cases of pediatric foreign body aspiration.
Purpose:
- To investigate the epidemiology, common etiologies, and clinical outcomes of foreign bodies in the pediatric respiratory tract.
- To identify risk factors and complications associated with respiratory foreign bodies in children.
Summary:
- The study identified a peak incidence in infants aged 1-2 years, with a male predominance (60%).
- Organic foreign bodies, particularly peanuts and fish bones, were the most frequent culprits.
- Bronchial impaction was more common than tracheal, with a preference for the right side. Two deaths occurred during endoscopic removal, and long-term complications included bronchial stenosis and bronchiectasis.
Impact:
- Highlights the significant risk of foreign body aspiration in young children, emphasizing the need for preventative measures.
- Informs clinical practice regarding diagnosis and management of pediatric respiratory foreign bodies, particularly in resource-limited settings.
- Underscores the potential for severe outcomes, including mortality and long-term respiratory morbidity, necessitating prompt and skilled intervention.
Abstract:
The authors report 43 cases of the presence of foreign bodies in the respiratory tract seen over a 20 year period in the University Pediatric Clinic of Kinshasa (Republic of Zaïre). In the light of these cases, it would appear that this pathological condition has apredilection for the infant, with a peak in the 1 to 2 year age group. There is a marked predominance for the male sex (60 %). Foreign bodies of organic nature come first (20/43) consisting above all of peanuts (8 cases) and fish bones (6 cases). As far as site is concerned, the bronchi are involved more often than trachea and the right side more than the left. Three children died including two during endoscopic extraction. Bronchial stenosis (1 case) and bronchi estasis (1 case) are the only complications seen in the long term.