[Therapy of chronic bronchial foreign bodies in children (author's transl)]

During infancy bronchoscopic removal of a foreign body firmly embedded in the granulation tissue sometimes causes considerable difficulties so that surgical procedures (bronchotomy) must be envisaged. On the basis of 4 observations, the distinct influence of daily prednisolone inhalations (25 mg of prednisolone) and antibiotic therapy on the retrogression of endobronchial granulation tissue has been proved: resulting in a spontaneous expectoration of the foreign bodies or in enabling the bronchoscopic removal of the foreign bodies. If chronic foreign bodies cannot be removed immediately and especially before undertaking surgical measures, treatment by prednisolone inhalation should be tried.