title: Management of suspected foreign body aspiration in children.
abstract: We aimed to establish prevailing consultant opinion on the management of children with a history suggestive of foreign body (FB) aspiration but no clinical or radiological findings. FB aspiration is a common problem in children. Most agree that bronchoscopy should be performed if a child has clinical or radiological signs. With suggestive history but no such signs, the decision is more difficult; both bronchoscopy and neglected FBs have the potential for serious consequences. A postal questionnaire was sent to all British Association of Otolaryngologists and Head and Neck Surgeon (BAO-HNS) consultants. The 563 questionnaires sent elicited a 63% reply rate. With suspected organic FBs, 52% would bronchoscope immediately, 38% would observe, and 10% would discharge. With suspected inorganic FBs, 35% would bronchoscope, 42% would observe, and 23% would discharge. Thus, the majority suggest admission, showing a preference for bronchoscopy with a history of organic FB, and observation if inorganic. Unless justified, it may be unacceptable to discharge these patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ear Nose and Throat Surgery, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh, UK. grahamdunn@aol.com
authors.forename: G R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Dunn
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wardrop
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lo
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Cowan
mesh_terms: D001999:Bronchoscopy; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005547:Foreign Bodies / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D001239:Inhalation; D010036:Otolaryngology; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom