ISSN : 1301-5680
e-ISSN : 2149-8156
Turkish Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery     
Tracheobronchial foreign body aspirations in adults
Soner Gürsu1, Mehmet Sırmalı 2, Suat Gezer 1, Göktürk Fındık 1, Hasan Türüt 3, Ertan Aydın 1, Sadi Kaya 1, İrfan Taştepe1
1Atatürk Göğüs Hastalıkları ve Göğüs Cerrahisi Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastenesi, Göğüs Cerrahisi Kliniği, Ankara
2Süleyman Demirel Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Göğüs Cerrahisi Anabilim Dalı, Isparta
3Kahramanmaraş Sütçü İmam Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Göğüs Cerrahisi Anabilim Dalı, Kahramanmaraş
Background: Tracheobronchial foreign body aspiration is a life treatening clinical problem which is not much frequently seen in adults. In this study, we aimed to present our experienceswith the diagnosis and treatment of foreign body aspirations in adults.

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.

Keywords : Foreign body aspiration; bronchoscopy
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