Foreign bodies in the tracheobronchial tree. A review of 110 cases.

During the period from 1966 to 1974, 110 cases of foreign bodies in the tracheobronchial tree were treated in our clinic using the ventilation bronchoscope under general anesthesia, and good results were obtained. Upon reviewing the case records, the ventilation bronchoscope was evaluated to be safe even for infants. Of the 110 cases, male predominance was 2 to 1, and 76 infants were under 3 years of age. Although, various types of foreign bodies were removed, almost half of the cases involved peanuts. Generally, the right bronchus was obstructed more frequently than the left. However, in children under 6 years of age, this tendency was inverted especially in 53 cases involving peanuts. The relationships between the age factor and the location of the foreign bodies are discussed.