WORLD JOURNAL OF ADVANCE
HEALTHCARE RESEARCH

*Dr. Waad Idrees Abdullah, Dr. Harith Hameed Majeed and Dr. Rekan Moflih Darak

ABSTRACT

Background: Foreign body inhalation in the airway is a universal problem, being still one of the important causes of childhood morbidity and mortality. Socioeconomic-cultural and educational factors are determinants for the frequency and particularities of the foreign body aspirated. Aim of the study: To determine the clinical characteristics and the result of the bronchoscopic approach for foreign body aspiration in children’s airways referred to the pediatric surgery center. Patients and Methods: To achieve the aim of the present study, a prospective study on 315, pediatric patients, on whom bronchoscopy was carried out in the pediatric surgery center at AL- Khansaa Teaching Hospital, due to suspected foreign body inhalation, from January 2002 up to January 2004. Results: Total sample size was 315 patients with mean age of (26.0±3.561) months; 196 (62.2%) were males and 119 (37.8%) were females with the male to female ratio was 1.6:1. About 71.1% of the patients were of Arabic race. The most frequent symptom was Penetration Syndrome which found in 262 patients (83.2%). The radiological findings were positive in 290 (92.1%) patients and the collapse consolidation was the most frequent finding in 71(22.5%). Positive bronchoscopy found in 209(66.3%). Foreign bodies were found in the right main bronchus in 94 (45.0%) of the cases and in the main left bronchus in 30.1%. About 22 different types of, the most common foreign bodies found during the bronchoscopy were sun seeds. Successful bronchoscopy was done in 208(99.5%) patients and in only one patient thoracotomy was decided. Conclusions: A negative history, clinical examination, and chest X-ray do not necessarily exclude aspirated foreign body material. Bronchoscopy is the most effective diagnostic and therapeutic modality to manage foreign body in the tracheobronchial tree and to prevent complications related to neglected foreign body aspiration.

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