Foreign Body in Tracheobronchial Tree

A two year experience with the treatment of 50 patients (86% children) who were admitted for foreign body aspiration in the department of otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery is reviewed. The object of this study was to show the clinical manifestations, the radiological findings, the nature and distribution in the tracheobronchial tree and complications due to long standing foreign bodies in the bronchial tree. Males (35) were more commonly involved as compared to females (15) in the ratio of 2.3:1. Right main bronchus was involved in 24 patients (48%), left main bronchus in 15 patients (30%) and trachea in 11 patients (22%). The most common foreign bodies found were beans (24%), peas (18%), and corns (10%). The most frequent clinical manifestation was choking (60%) and the most frequent radiological finding was atelectasis (44%). The most serious complication was pneumothorax in 2 patients who needed intercostal chest tube. In conclusion, inspite of an obvious foreign body in the tracheobronchial tree many cases are not diagnosed because sudden choking at the time of aspiration in children may not be noticed.

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