Citation

Puhakka H, Svedström E, Kero P, Valli P, Iisalo E. Am. J. Dis. Child. (1960) 1989; 143(5): 543-545.

Affiliation

Department of Otolaryngology, University Central Hospital, Turku, Finland.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1989, American Medical Association)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

2718986

Abstract

Extraction of a foreign body from the tracheobronchial tree was accomplished for 83 children. The mean age was 1 year 9 months for the 27 girls and 3 years 1 month for the 56 boys; 46 children (55%) were younger than 2 years of age. Sixteen (19%) of the foreign bodies were radiopaque, and 35 (42%) were either verified or suspected radiologically before endoscopy. Forty-one foreign bodies (49%) were situated in the right bronchial tree. Extraction was successful in 81 children (98%) and was performed on 50 children (60%) during the first 24 hours. Twenty-five (30%) of the foreign bodies were peanuts. Three children experienced a residual foreign body, without serious complications. We believe that an open tube bronchoscopy should be performed whenever abnormal stridor or cough is observed in a healthy child and when appropriate antibiotic therapy is unsuccessful.

Language: en