Inhalation of foreign bodies in children

ABSTRACT

Sixty pediatric patients suspected of having tracheobronchial foreign bodies were admitted to Banha University Hospital. 66.6% were below 3 years old, 30% of cases gave a clear history of foreign body inhalation, while 20% did not and were treated for some time as if they had a chest infection. Roentgenographic evidence provided clues to diagnosis in 34 patients [56.7%]. Bronchoscopic removal under general anesthesia was successful in 52 patients. In 3 cases the foreign body was impacted and was removed by thoracotomy and bronchotomy in 2 cases, while in the third case resection of a bronchiectatic lobe was done. Watermelon seeds were removed from 60% of cases. Tracheostomy was necessary following bronchoscopic examination in one patient, while one patient died due to cardiac arrest