Diagnostic techniques for organic foreign body aspiration in children – case reports.

Abstract

Tracheobronchial foreign body aspiration represents a life-threatening condition especially in young children. It carries a great amount of mortality and morbidity through the possibility of obstructing the airway and thus resulting in acute respiratory failure. The diagnostic challenges are brought by the great variability of clinical presentation which sometimes only consists of subtle symptoms. For an optimal therapeutic outcome, only a high index of clinical suspicion can ensure a prompt treatment. The mainstay of both diagnostic and therapeutic algorithm resides in bronchoscopy. The article reports the multidisciplinary management of two young children with organic foreign body aspiration, outlining the importance of a step-wise diagnostic approach.