Tracheobronchial foreign bodies in children

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to prove that rigid bronchoscopy is a relatively safe procedure in experts’ hands and should be carried out in children whenever symptoms like persistent cough, chest infection or stridor persist despite proper antibiotic therapy.

METHODS: A review of 534 bronchoscopies in children was carried out between August 1988 and May 1995. Three hundred and fifteen were male and 219 were female children. The most common age was between 1 and 2 years while the mean age being 1 year 10 months.

RESULTS: Out of 534 brochoscopies, 332 were positive for foreign bodies in the tracheosbronchial tree and 202 were negative. The most common site of lodgment of foreign body was the right bronchus. The clinical presentation was variable. An increase in the number of cases was observed. A variety of foreign bodies were encountered, the majority being peanuts.

CONCLUSION: In our opinion rigid bronchoscopy is a relatively safe procedure and should be carried out in children whenever symptoms like persistent cough, chest infection or stridor persist despite proper antibiotic therapy.