title: Foreign body in tracheobronchial tree.
abstract: Inhalation of foreign body into the tracheobronchial tree is a medical emergency sometimes resulting into sudden death. The current mortality rate due to foreign body inhalation ranges from 0% to 1.8%. Children with or without positive history of aspiration were examined and diagnosis was made on the basis of history, clinical findings, radiological evaluation and strong index of suspicion. A review of 30 cases of suspected foreign body aspiration revealed, children between 6 months were found to be very vulnerable to aspiration. Majority of children were boys. 80% of the patients had positive history of inhalation. Only 50% of the patients presented immediately i.e. within 24 hours after aspiration. Common symptoms were cough and respiratory distress. Decreased air entry was the significant clinical sign (50%). Obstructive emphysema and mediastinal shift were found in the majority of cases (50%). Rigid bronchoscopy under general anaesthesia and patient ventilating using a jet ventilator is a very safe and effective technique.
authors.affiliation: Department of ENT and Head and Neck Surgery, B. J. Medical College (Civil Hospital), Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India.
authors.forename: Vikas
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sinha
authors.forename: Rizwan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Memon
authors.forename: Devang
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.forename: Bela
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Prajapati
authors.forename: Vadisha
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bhat
authors.forename: Yogesh
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: More
keywords: Aspiration; Bronchoscopy; Tracheobronc hial foreign body