Pérez Prado M G, Carballo Castillo I, Sendón Rico F, García Fernández M E, Ramil Fraga C, Quiroga Ordóñez E
UCIP Hospital Materno-Infantil, Teresa Herrera, La Coruña.
An Esp Pediatr. 1996 May;44(5):453-5.
Aspiration of foreign bodies is a common accident during childhood. In its diagnosis, both an accurate clinical history and a high degree of suspicion must be taken into account. Without an early diagnosis and its correct treatment, it remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality in children. The objective was to analyze the incidence, diagnosis and therapy of foreign bodies in the airways in pediatric patients. We have conducted a retrospective study of sixty-four patients admitted to our Pediatric Intensive Care Unit during the last eight years with a suspected diagnosis of a foreign body in the airways. Accordingly, we have evaluated the clinical and epidemiological data, as well as the diagnostic and therapeutic methods used. Half of the patients were under two years of age. Cough was a constant finding in all cases. Most of the cases showed air-trapping in chest X-rays, and in almost all cases a bronchoscopy was needed to remove the foreign body. The aspirated material found was mostly frequently found was a piece of food and it was most commonly placed in the main right bronchus. We underline the importance of prevention to avoid this problem by leaving out of the child's reach dry fruits and other small objects that can be easily introduced into their mouths.
