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Published on: January 17, 2011
Tracheobronchial foreign body aspiration in children
E M Burton1, W G Brick, J D Hall
1Department of Radiology, LeBonheur Children's Medical Center, Memphis, Tenn, USA.
Insights
This study analyzed 155 pediatric tracheobronchial foreign body aspirations (FBA), finding peanuts were common. Early diagnosis is key, as symptoms like cough and wheezing can be delayed, impacting treatment.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Pulmonology
- Medical Imaging
- Emergency Medicine
Background:
- Foreign body aspiration (FBA) is a common pediatric emergency.
- Timely diagnosis and intervention are crucial for favorable outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review demographic and radiographic findings in pediatric FBA.
- To identify common foreign bodies, locations, symptoms, and radiographic signs.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of 155 pediatric patients with bronchoscopy-proven FBA.
- Analysis of patient demographics, clinical presentation, and radiographic data.
Main Results:
- Most patients were males aged 1-2 years; peanuts were the most common foreign body.
- Common symptoms included cough and wheezing; delayed diagnosis occurred in some cases.
- Radiographic findings included hyperlucency and atelectasis; normal chest radiographs were noted in tracheal FBA.
Conclusions:
- Pediatric FBA often involves young children and specific foreign bodies like peanuts.
- Radiographic findings vary, and normal chest X-rays do not rule out FBA, especially in the trachea.
Abstract:
In this retrospective study, we reviewed the demographic and radiographic findings of 155 children with bronchoscopy-proven tracheobronchial foreign body aspiration (FBA). Two thirds of the patients were male, and most were children between 1 and 2 years of age. An aspirated peanut accounted for one third of all cases. Foreign body location was distributed nearly evenly to the right and left primary bronchi; tracheal foreign body was noted in 16 patients. The most frequent symptoms of FBA were cough (85 patients) and wheezing (60 patients). Although most patients were seen within 1 day of aspiration, 30 patients had symptoms that lasted at least 1 week before diagnosis. The most common radiographic findings were unilateral or segmental hyperlucency (59) or atelectasis (38). The trachea was the site of the foreign body in one half of children with a normal chest radiograph and FBA.
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