Tracheobronchial foreign bodies.
A retrospective review of 88 cases of foreign body aspiration was undertaken. The patients ranged in age from 5 months to 73 years; the peak incidences of foreign body aspiration occurred in children less than 3 years of age and in adults older than 50 years. Sixty-one of the 88 patients were male. Physical examination was abnormal in 61% of patients. The most common radiographic abnormality was inspiratory-expiratory abnormality, seen in 27% of patients. Rigid endoscopy under general anesthesia was the preferred method for removal of the aspirated material. Multiple foreign bodies were found in 5% of the patients. Tracheobronchial foreign bodies should, therefore, be strongly suspected in susceptible patient populations who present with a suggestive history, even when no physical or radiographic evidence can be seen. Patients should be carefully examined for multiple foreign bodies at the time of rigid endoscopic removal.
McGuirt
W F
WF
Department of Surgery, Bowman Gray School of Medicine, Wake Forest University Medical Center, Winston-Salem, NC 27103.
Holmes
K D
KD
Feehs
R
R
Browne
J D
JD
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001980:Bronchi; D001999:Bronchoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005547:Foreign Bodies / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000209:etiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D014132:Trachea