Methods: Thirty three patients (7 male, 26 female; mean age 32; range 16 to 68 years) who were hospitalized and treated with the diagnosis of foreign body aspiration between 2000 and 2004 in our clinic were prospectively evaluated by sex, age, complaints, duration of application, physical findings, radiological findings, nature of foreign bodies, location of foreign bodies, treatment methods and complications.

Results: Thirty three patients who were hospitalized with the diagnosis of foreign body aspiration underwent rigid bronchoscopy under general anesthesia. Foreign body was detected in 31 cases (94%). Foreign bodies were removed with rigid bronchoscopy in 28, with tracheostomy plus rigid bronchoscopy in 1 and with thoracotomy in 2 cases. The commonest complaint was cough. 48% of foreign bodies were removed from right bronchial system and 42% from left one. 64.5% of foreign bodies were pins. We observed complications, including 1 pneumothorax and 1 division of foreign body into 2 pieces causing need for a second bronchoscopy, in 2 (6.4%) cases.

Conclusion: Rigid bronchoscopy under general anesthesia is gold standart in diagnosis and treatmentof roreign body aspirations. If foreign body can not be removed with rigid bronchoscopy, it must be removed by surgical procedures.