ABSTRACT

Bronchoscopy is an endoscopic procedure that is used for the diagnosis and treatment of several tracheobronchial pathologies. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical records of children, in whom bronchoscopy was performed between November 1995 and September 2007. Data of 37 patients (median age 28.7 months, range 12 to 134 months) with a history of foreign body aspiration and respiratory distress and in whom bronchoscopy was performed were retrospectively reviewed. Of the 31 children with a history of foreign body aspiration (83%), a foreign body was extracted from 27 (73%). Mucus secretions in the tracheobronchial tree were aspirated in 6 (17%) cases with respiratory distress. The patients, from whom a foreign body was extracted showed differences from the others with regard to acute onset cough (70%) and stridor (44%), ipsilateral decreased breath sounds (78%), and air trapping in chest radiogram (44%). The most common indication for bronchoscopy procedure was the history of a foreign body aspiration. To avoid morbidity and mortality, education of parents and caregivers about the prevention of foreign body aspiration should be the main goal. In addition, bronchoscopy should be done with great care by experienced specialists.