Foreign Body Aspiration in Children: 30-years Experience in a Single Institution

Kim, Hye Young; Kong, Seom Gim; Park, Hee Ju

Abstract

PURPOSE
This study aimed to analyze the clinical spectrum of foreign body aspiration in children and explore the clinical features which could facilitate early diagnosis.
METHODS
We studied 206 pediatric patients who had aspirated foreign bodies in Pusan National University Hospital between 1980 and 2009. Age, sex, symptoms, signs, the type and location of foreign bodies, radiologic findings and clinical courses were investigated retrospectively. We compared these findings of children diagnosed within 24 hours (early-diagnosis group: EDG) with those of the delayed-diagnosis group (DDG).
RESULTS
The majority of patients (76.2%) were yonger than 3 years of age. Cough (67.9%) and decreased breathing sound (43.6%) were the predominant symptoms and signs. Obstructive emphysema (50.0%) was the most frequent radiologic finding. Peanut was the most common foreign body. Acute severe airway obstruction by aspirated foreign bodies tended to occur in younger children because of their small airway. Choking was more frequent in the EDG group than in the DDG group (P=0.018). For the location of foreign bodies, the larynx and trachea were more common in the EDG group (P=0.031). Fever (P=0.024), persistent pneumonia (P=0.011) and bronchiectasis (P=0.041) were more common in the DDG group than in the EDG group. Bronchial asthma, upper respiratory infection and pneumonia were the most common wrong diagnosis.
CONCLUSION
Reducing the number of accidents associated with foreign body aspiration is the best way to promote public prevention policies. Physicians must consider the possibility of foreign body aspiration in children with chronic respiratory symptoms.