Clinical Study of Foreign Body Aspiration in Infants and Children

Cho, Young Kuk; Chung, Hae Yul; Ma, Jae Sook

Abstract

Inhalation of foreign bodies occur accidentally, and is encountered more frequently in children. Foreign body in the tracheobronchial tree is serious, and in some instances, can be fatal. Therefore, the early diagnosis of foreign body aspiration and its immediate removal are of vital importance. We evaluated the clinical characteristics of infants and children with foreign body aspiration. From January 1999 to January 2005, twenty-six children who had aspirated foreign body were treated in the Pediatric Department of Chonnam National University Hospital. The patients' records were retrospectively reviewed. The results as follows: 1) Out of 26, 22 cases (84.6%) were under 3 years of age, and the male/female ratio was 1.36 : 1. 2) Duration from aspiration to diagnosis was less than 24 hours in 9 cases (34.6%). 3) Four cases (15.4%) had no recognizable history of foreign body aspiration. 4) Vegetables, specifically peanuts, were the most common aspirated foreign body, and occupied 73.1% of the cases. 5) 17 cases (67.4%) of the foreign bodies were removed from left main bronchus. 6) The most common symptoms were cough, wheezing and dyspnea. 7) The most common complications were pulmonary emphysema and pneumonia. 8) the removal of foreign bodies delayed longer than 24 hours accompanied higher rates of complications. The early diagnosis of foreign body aspiration is no less important as the early removal foreign body.