Tracheobronchial foreign bodies. A persistent problem in pediatric patients
H. Puhakka, E. Svedstrom, P. Kero, P. Valli and E. Iisalo
Department of Otolaryngology, University Central Hospital, Turku, Finland.
Extraction of a foreign body from the tracheobronchial tree was
accomplished for 83 children. The mean age was 1 year 9 months for the 27
girls and 3 years 1 month for the 56 boys; 46 children (55%) were younger
than 2 years of age. Sixteen (19%) of the foreign bodies were radiopaque,
and 35 (42%) were either verified or suspected radiologically before
endoscopy. Forty-one foreign bodies (49%) were situated in the right
bronchial tree. Extraction was successful in 81 children (98%) and was
performed on 50 children (60%) during the first 24 hours. Twenty-five (30%)
of the foreign bodies were peanuts. Three children experienced a residual
foreign body, without serious complications. We believe that an open tube
bronchoscopy should be performed whenever abnormal stridor or cough is
observed in a healthy child and when appropriate antibiotic therapy is
unsuccessful.
