ABSTRACT
Background and Objectives: Foreign body (FB) aspiration is a worldwide health problem which can result in life threatening complications. It Most commonly occurs among children younger than 4 years of age; yet aspiration of sharp foreign bodies are seen more commonly in adults; growing up children and adolescents. The aim of this work is to study the demographical features; clinical presentations and management outcome of aspirated sharp metal foreign bodies in a group of Sudanese patients. Patients and Methods: This is a retrospective hospital based study including all cases of sharp metal foreign body aspiration who presented to the ENT department at Wad-Medani Teaching Hospital; Wad Medani; Sudan during the period from Nov. 2004 to Aug. 2007. Results: Total number of cases was fourteen (n=14). Twelve patients (85.7) were females and two were males (14.3); with a female to male ratio of 6:1. Patient ages ranged from 11 to 35 years with a mean age of 19.6 year. Rigid bronchoscopy was performed in all cases. The types of foreign body were headscarf pin in all females (85.7) and syringe needle in the two male cases (14.3) and were equally encountered in both right et left main bronchi. The foreign bodies were successfully removed using rigid bronchoscopy under general anaesthesia with grasping forceps in 12 cases (85.7); failed in one female patient (7.1) and postoperative mortality encountered in one male case (7.1). Conclusion: The use of headscarf pin is a cultural practice that carries serious health hazard which can be avoided by community health education et awareness. Rigid bronchoscopy is a suitable choice for diagnosis and treatment and should only be performed or supervised by a senior expert bronchoscopist. Sticker manufacturer specifications and trade regulations for scarf pins should be implemented