[Surgical complications caused by tracheobronchial foreign body in childhood]

Four cases of tracheobronchial foreign body aspirations are described that necessitated surgical interventions. Bronchial rupture occurred in three cases and in one case the foreign body had to be removed via thoracotomy after endoscopic extraction had failed. The possible complications in case of a chronic tracheobronchial foreign body due to delayed diagnosis are pointed out. The purpose of this contribution is to provide the general practitioner with guidelines to suspect the presence of a foreign body well in time and to refer the patient quickly to a competent hospital for immediate treatment.