Tracheobronchial foreign body aspiration (FBA) is a common event with serious sequences. The aim of this study is to analyze the clinical and radiological spectrum as well as the nature of tracheobronchia! foreign bodies (FBs) in children who were positive for foreign body (FB) after bronchoscopy. The age, gender, presence of a history of aspiration, symptoms and signs, radiographic findings, delay in diagnosis, FB type, FB localization in the respiratory tract and number of FBs in each case were noted.
Out of 50 cases, 26 were male and 24 were female. Their age ranged from 5 months to 12 years (mean 2.48 ± 2.23 years). The peak incidence of FBA occurred in the age group 1-3 years, FBA was suspected
by the parents in 70% of patients. Sudden onset of cough (88%), breathelessness (68%) and wheezing (60%) were the predominant symptoms and signs. Atelectasis (42%), normal chest x-ray (24%) and obstructive emphysema (24%) were the most frequent radiological findings. Foreign bodies were localized in the central airway (14%), in the right bronchial tree (40)% and in the left bronchial tree (44%). Bilateral FBs were found in one patient (2%). Watermelon seeds (34%) and peanuts (24%) were the most common FBs aspirated. The mean delay in diagnosis (±SD) was 44±114 days. Only 7 patients (14%) were presented in the first 24 hours after aspiration. The longest delay was 2 years. ....