Foreign Body in the Airway: A review of 71 patients

ABSTRACT

Seventy one children aged 3 months and 8 months with a foreign body in the airway were analysed. Most of the patients were less than 3 years of age, and male to female ratio 2.6:1. Most foreign bodies were food materials (58.2%), metallic bodies (20.9%) and plastic materials(13.4%). Of all the foreign bodies, 61 cases were lodged in the main bronchi and 3 cases were lodged in the larynx or trachea. Common symptoms and signs were cough, dyspnea, mild pyrexia, recurrent respiratory tract infection, decreased air entry, cyanosis and rales. The most common roentgenographic finding was obstructive emphysema (61.2%). A positive history of foreign body aspiration was obtained in 77.5% of the patients and it was found that carelessness of some sort is responsible in almost all the cases. Of the foreign bodies removed, 84.6% were done bronchoscopy. Direct laryngoscopy was performed in 4.6% of patients. Complications were involved in 19.7% of the cases with bronchoscopy. Three patients died of septic shock, asphyxia and hypoxic brain damage respectively.