Foreign bodies aspirated in children: Role of bronchoscopy

Objective: To examine the diagnostic and therapeutic role of fiber-optic and rigid bronchoscopy in pediatric patients with foreign body inhalations. Methods: From January 1986 to December 2004, we observed 128 young patients with suspicion of foreign body aspiration. Patients were divided into 3 groups: group I, patients with negative chest X-ray; group II, patients with radiological direct signs; group III, patients with radiological indirect signs. Results: Removal of the foreign body was effected in 105 patients by rigid bronchoscopy and in 13 patients by fiber-optic bronchoscopy. In 3 group II patients a thoracotomy with a bronchotomy was necessary. Conclusions: Fiber-optic bronchoscopy showed a diagnostic accuracy rate of 100% but played a poor therapeutic role with a case resolution of 10.7%. Rigid bronchoscopy was the main technique, permitting the removal of the tracheobronchial foreign body in 97.2% of patients.