Management of tracheo-bronchial foreign bodies in children.
OBJECTIVE
To review alternative surgical and anaesthetic options in the management of foreign bodies lodged in the tracheobronchial tree in children aged below 10 years.


METHODS
A five year retrospective secondary data analysis.


METHODS
Three hospitals based in Eldoret Municipality, Kenya.


METHODS
Outcome variables included morbidity and mortality.


RESULTS
Of the thirty two children studied, 74.1% had bronchoscopy and 25.9% thoracotomy. The overall mortality rate was 3.3%.


CONCLUSIONS
Foreign bodies in the tracheo-bronchial tree are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in children aged below 10 years. In settings where appropriate equipment is inadequate, timely thoracotomy may be life saving.
Sisenda
T M
TM
Department of Surgery, Faculty of Health Sciences, Moi University, PO Box 4606, Eldoret, Kenya.
Khwa-Otsyula
B O
BO
Wambani
J O
JO
D017677:Age Distribution; D001980:Bronchi; D001999:Bronchoscopy / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D007887:Fabaceae; D005547:Foreign Bodies / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007226:Infant Mortality; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007630:Kenya / Q000453:epidemiology; D009017:Morbidity; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012639:Seeds; D013908:Thoracotomy / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014132:Trachea; D016896:Treatment Outcome