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[Foreign-body aspiration]
M G Pérez Prado1, I Carballo Castillo, F Sendón Rico
1UCIP Hospital Materno-Infantil, Teresa Herrera, La Coruña.
Insights
Foreign body aspiration in children is common, especially in those under two. Early diagnosis and bronchoscopic removal are crucial for preventing serious complications in pediatric patients.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Pulmonology
- Emergency Medicine
- Otolaryngology
Background:
- Foreign body aspiration is a significant cause of childhood morbidity and mortality.
- Accurate clinical history and high suspicion are vital for diagnosis.
- Delayed diagnosis and treatment can lead to severe health consequences.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the incidence, diagnosis, and therapy of airway foreign bodies in pediatric patients.
- To evaluate clinical and epidemiological data related to pediatric foreign body aspiration.
- To assess diagnostic and therapeutic methods used in pediatric intensive care.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective study of sixty-four pediatric patients over eight years.
- Inclusion criteria: suspected foreign body in the airways.
- Evaluation of clinical, epidemiological, diagnostic, and therapeutic data.
Main Results:
- Half of the patients were under two years of age.
- Cough was a universal symptom.
- Air-trapping on chest X-rays was common; bronchoscopy was required for removal in most cases.
- Food was the most frequent aspirated material, typically lodged in the right main bronchus.
Conclusions:
- Early diagnosis and prompt treatment of airway foreign bodies are critical in children.
- Prevention strategies, such as keeping small objects and dry fruits away from children, are essential.
- Bronchoscopy remains the primary method for foreign body removal in pediatric patients.
Abstract:
Aspiration of foreign bodies is a common accident during childhood. In its diagnosis, both an accurate clinical history and a high degree of suspicion must be taken into account. Without an early diagnosis and its correct treatment, it remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality in children. The objective was to analyze the incidence, diagnosis and therapy of foreign bodies in the airways in pediatric patients. We have conducted a retrospective study of sixty-four patients admitted to our Pediatric Intensive Care Unit during the last eight years with a suspected diagnosis of a foreign body in the airways. Accordingly, we have evaluated the clinical and epidemiological data, as well as the diagnostic and therapeutic methods used. Half of the patients were under two years of age. Cough was a constant finding in all cases. Most of the cases showed air-trapping in chest X-rays, and in almost all cases a bronchoscopy was needed to remove the foreign body. The aspirated material found was mostly frequently found was a piece of food and it was most commonly placed in the main right bronchus. We underline the importance of prevention to avoid this problem by leaving out of the child's reach dry fruits and other small objects that can be easily introduced into their mouths.