Treatment of 38 cases of foreign body aspiration in children causing life-threatening complications

• Published in: International journal of pediatric otorhinolaryngology Vol. 73; no. 12; pp. 1624 - 1629
• Main Authors: Li, Youzhong, Wu, Weijing, Yang, Xinming, Li, Jingjia
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Ireland Elsevier Ireland Ltd 01.12.2009
• Subjects: Bronchi; Bronchoscopy; Bronchoscopy - methods; Child; Child, Preschool; China - epidemiology; Cohort Studies; Complications; Critical Illness; Female; Foreign Bodies - complications; Foreign Bodies - diagnostic imaging; Foreign Bodies - surgery; Foreign body aspiration; Heart Failure - epidemiology; Heart Failure - etiology; Hemothorax - epidemiology; Hemothorax - etiology; Humans; Incidence; Infant; Inhalation; Lung Abscess - epidemiology; Lung Abscess - etiology; Male; Otolaryngology; Pediatrics; Pneumonia - epidemiology; Pneumonia - etiology; Pneumothorax - epidemiology; Pneumothorax - etiology; Respiratory Aspiration - diagnostic imaging; Respiratory Aspiration - etiology; Respiratory Aspiration - surgery; Retrospective Studies; Survival Rate; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Trachea; Tracheoesophageal Fistula - epidemiology; Tracheoesophageal Fistula - etiology; Treatment; Bronchoscopy; Treatment; Complications; Foreign body aspiration
• ISSN: 0165-5876; 1872-8464
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijporl.2009.08.003

Abstract Objectives The objectives of this study were to discuss the clinical magnifications and therapies of tracheobronchial foreign body aspiration (FBA) in children causing life-threatening complications. Method We retrospectively reviewed 38 cases of FBA with serious complications in children out of 749 cases of FBA in children that had been admitted to and treated in the Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, P.R. China, from June 1990 to December 2007. The complications included pneumothorax (14 cases); pneumomediastinum (6 cases); pulmonary abscess (7 cases); massive hemorrhage, tracheoesophageal fistula and exudative pleurisy, in 3 cases, respectively; and heart failure (2 cases). Each child's symptoms, including duration, physical findings, chest radiographs, including CT, and the nature of the foreign body causing the complications due to FBA were recorded. Results Among the 38 cases of FBA, the FBs in 36 cases were removed by bronchoscopy, and in 2 cases the FBs were removed via thoracotomy. Except for 1 case that resulted in death, the other 37 children were completely cured and discharged to home from the hospital. Conclusions For children with FBA who experience severe and life-threatening complications from FBA, our recommendation is that emergency measures should be available during FBs removal. With correct judgment and management of the complications of FBA, the mortality rate can be reduced.