ABSTRACT

Foreign body aspiration is a common pediatric emergency in childhood. It has a high mortality rate in the first three years of life. The aim of the study was to evaluate the patients performed bronchoscopy for suspicion of foreign body aspiration between 1995 and 2003, retrospectively. The rigid bronchoscopies were done in 15 patients and foreign bodies were defined and removed in 13 patients. During or just after the bronchoscopy, a total of 3 complications were detected (bronchospasm in two patients, cardiac arrest in one patient) but no patient was deceased. Foreign body aspirations could have similar clinical findings with other pediatric pulmonary problems in childhood. Therefore the patients who have suspicion of foreign body aspiration should be evaluated promptly and systematically and treated as soon as possible.