FOREIGN
BODY ASPIRATION IN CHILDREN: TWENTY-FIVE YEARS EXPERIENCE
Shentov B, Georgieva P
Department of Pediatrics, Higher Medical Institute,
Pleven, Bulgaria
Objective: To present the most relevant clinical
and radiographic findings of a foreign body aspiration in children and our
management experience.
Methods:
A retrospective chart review of children with aspirated foreign bodies for
twenty-five years (1976 – 2000).
Results:
Analysis of 284 children with aspirated foreign bodies was done at the Pediatric
Department. The age of children varied from 3 months to 11 years, median
age was 2.1 years. The boys : girls ratio was 1.6:1. Aspirated foreign
bodies was usually of food – stuff origin and in two third of the cases
sunflower seeds, peanuts and walnuts were inhalated. The main clinical
presentation was sudden onset of coughing, dispnea and wheezing in a
previously healthy child. The physical examination of the lungs revealed
asymmetry of the findings and the leading among them was diminished breath
sounds at the affected half part of the lungs. The X –ray examination
provided indirect evidence for foreign bodies in 82.8 % of the children and
the most frequent was unilateral air trapping. Bronchoscopic removal of a
foreign body was done by rigid bronchoscope in 280 cases. Four of the
objects were cough out spontaneously. The delay of diagnosis and treatment
is discussed.
Conclusion:
The inhalation of foreign bodies is a persisting problem. It is necessary to conduct more
active information campaigns toward parents to avoid choking incidents
among small children.