FOREIGN BODY ASPIRATIONS IN CHILDREN: A REVIEW OF OUR EXPERIENCE IN 75 CASES

Nehir Sucu, Barlas Aytaçoğlu, Ali Özdülger, Oğuz Köksel, Ali Gül, Murat Dikmengil

Mersin Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi, Göğüs Kalp ve Damar Cerrahisi Ana Bilim Dalı, Mersin

Background:Foreign body aspirations in children usually presents with acute respiratory distress but sometimes it may remain silent. Sometimes persistent lung infection, bronchiectasis or lung abcess may be the only presenting clinical picture. In this study we aimed to express the importance of some predictive clinical pictures arousing for aspirated suspicion of foreign bodies and the importance of bronchoscopy in the diagnosis and treatment of such clinical presentations and in identified foreign body aspirations.

Methods: Rigid bronchoscopy was performed in seventy-five patients with suspicion of foreign body aspiration who admitted to our clinic.

Results: Fifty-four children (72%) with the definitive diagnosis of aspirated foreign body underwent bronchoscopy for treatment and twenty-one children (28%) were taken to bronchoscopic examination for the establishment of diagnosis. Nonfatal complications occurred in 3 children (4%).

Conclusions: Foreign body aspiration is a major problem and is a threat for life in children. There may be some predictive clinical evidence in the presentation of the foreign body aspirations which should be suspected and bronchoscopy should not be abstained from for both diagnosis and treatment.

Keywords : Foreign body aspiration, airway obstruction, bronchoscopy

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