title: A heuristic approach to foreign bodies in the paediatric airway.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This retrospective study reviews the clinical presentation and management of children with airway FBs in our centre. It suggests a safe and reliable guideline to help differentiate which patients should proceed to investigation with rigid laryngobronchoscopy.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective review of all case notes of laryngobronchoscopies performed for suspected FB aspiration from January 2003 to August 2013 at a tertiary paediatric institution was undertaken. Patient characteristics, history, clinical examination, radiological findings and outcomes were analysed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  158 patients underwent rigid laryngobronchoscopy for suspected FB aspiration between January 2003 and August 2013. The baseline population demographics, the location and type of FBs retrieved were comparable to other similar studies; however, there is a statistically significant higher proportion of Pacific, Maori and Middle Eastern/Latin American/African children compared with the baseline population. Two or more positive findings in the presence of an acute history, any examination or radiology findings is a good indicator to proceed to laryngobronchoscopy with over 99% sensitivity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In a hospital presentation population, this retrospective study suggests that a guideline to proceed to laryngobronchoscopy in a case of suspected FB aspiration is two out of the three positive findings in the presence of an acute history, any examination or radiology findings. Patients who are stable and who do not have two of the three broad category findings can be considered for conservative management and observed on the ward, however, this is a guideline and must be combined with the clinical expertise of the paediatric airway specialist. Further studies are recommended to investigate contributing factors for the disproportionately higher incidence amongst Pacific, Maori and Middle Eastern/Latin American/African children.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric Otorhinolaryngology, Starship Children's Hospital, 2 Park Road, Grafton, Auckland 1023, New Zealand. Electronic address: dora.wan@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Dora
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Blair
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric Otorhinolaryngology, Starship Children's Hospital, 2 Park Road, Grafton, Auckland 1023, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Raymond
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric Otorhinolaryngology, Starship Children's Hospital, 2 Park Road, Grafton, Auckland 1023, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Nikki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mills
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric Otorhinolaryngology, Starship Children's Hospital, 2 Park Road, Grafton, Auckland 1023, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Colin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Barber
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric Otorhinolaryngology, Starship Children's Hospital, 2 Park Road, Grafton, Auckland 1023, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Neeff
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001999:Bronchoscopy; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005547:Foreign Bodies / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology / Q000628:therapy*; D000066506:Heuristics; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D018579:Patient Selection; D053120:Respiratory Aspiration / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology / Q000628:therapy*; D012137:Respiratory System; D012189:Retrospective Studies
keywords: Bronchoscopy; Foreign body aspiration; Foreign body inhalation; Laryngobronchoscopy; Laryngoscopy; Paediatric airway