Tracheobronchial foreign bodies in children

ABSTRACT

Bronchoscopy was performed in 45 patients with suspicion of foreign body aspiration during 1996 at B-unit of National Institute of Child Health [NICH], Karachi. The common symptoms were sudden onset of dyspnoea of variable intensity and cough. In 35 patients the foreign body was found and removed. Betel nut [supari, chalia, Areca catechu] was the cause in majority [45%] of cases. Two patients died following removal while one died before bronchoscopy. Ten patients were referred from other cities. Foreign body aspiration should be suspected in patients who present with sudden onset of respiratory symptoms even in the absence of history of aspiration. Emergency bronchoscopy facility should be made available in all the centres dealing with paediatric emergencies and should be made part of surgical residency programme even at R1 level. Mass awareness should be created through electronic media and family physicians to decrease the incidence of such accidents