The efficacy of fiberoptic bronchoscopy through laryngeal mask airway in pediatric foreign body extraction

Background The use of fiberoptic bronchoscopy (FOB) through laryngeal mask airway (LMA) in children allows the use of an adult-size bronchoscope with its grasping tools; thus, it may aid in foreign body (FB) extraction. Aim We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of FOB through LMA in pediatric FB extraction. Patients and methods We prospectively recruited all children (≤16 years) who presented to or were referred to the Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Ain Shams University Hospital, with a clinical suspicion of FB inhalation between June 2012 and June 2013. All the patients were subjected to FOB through LMA under general anesthesia. Rigid bronchoscopy (RB) was available to extract any FB that could not be removed. Results Of the 49 children suspected to have FBs, 41 FBs were identified in 28 boys and 13 girls, mean age 5.9 years (9 months to 16 years). FBs were more often lodged in the right side than in the left one (48 vs. 38%) and with predominance of organic FBs (75.6%), mainly seeds (60.9%). Successful extraction by the current technique was achieved in 34 of 41 (82.9%) FBs identified. Extraction of six of seven FBs that could not be removed was successful with the use of RB and open thoracotomy was required in one case. Noncritical complications related to FOB through LMA included laryngeal edema, transient hypoxia, gastric distension, mild hemoptysis, and fever, which occurred in five, five, four, three, and two patients, respectively. One critical complication (stridor) occurred that was related to RB. Conclusion In conclusion, FOB through LMA is safe and effective in pediatric FB retrieval under general anesthesia with RB backup.