[Statistical analysis of tracheobronchial foreign bodies].

Incidence of foreign body aspiration in tracheobronchial tree is rare, however the foreign body aspiration can lead to severe illness and even death if not diagnosed and treated promptly. We retrospectively analyzed forty five patients who underwent ventilation bronchoscope under general anesthesia for suspected aspirated foreign bodies in our hospital. In thirty eight patients, foreign body was confirmed in tracheobronchial tree, while in seven patients foreign body was not confirmed with bronchoscope. The thirty eight patients ranged in age from 10 months to 73 years; the peak incidence of foreign body aspiration occurred in children under 3 years of age. Twenty five of thirty eight patients were male. Food or food derivatives were the causative agents in 68% of the patients, with 65% due to a portion of peanut. The foreign body was located in the right and left bronchus with almost equal frequency. The main symptoms were coughing (72%), wheezing (53%), and dyspnea (25%). The radiographic abnormality was seen in eighteen of thirty eight patients. A radio-opaque material was seen in 18%. Children at age 6 years of younger (90%) had been witnessed to choke on identifiable foreign body, but only 40% were diagnosed within 24 hours. Twelve of these children were treated unnecessarily for asthma, pneumonia, or so on. We conclude that it is most important to take history carefully considering the possibility of foreign body aspiration in the patients with coughing, wheezing, or dyspnea.