Foreign Body Aspiration in children: A Review of 10 years

Objective: A review of all cases of suspected foreign body aspiration in children transferred to an ENT referral center for endoscopy for 10years. Methods: In the Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery 96 cases of endoscopy for presumed foreign body aspiration in children during the time period of 10years were retrospectively analyzed. The results were compared with a review of the actual literature. Result: During the most recent time period in 69 out of 96 patients an aspiration was confirmed, and the foreign bodies removed. The mean patient age was 2.3years. Organic foreign bodies, especially peanuts, were most common. In 70% of the cases endoscopy was performed within the first 24hours. The main bronchus was most frequently affected with an almost equal distribution of both sides. Six foreign bodies were found in the esophagus. Conclusion: When foreign body aspiration is suspected, early endoscopic removal is mandatory. In cases where no foreign body is found in the airways, esophagoscopy is necessary. In exceptional cases CT-scans can be of high diagnostic value.