Foreign Body in the Tracheobronchial Tree

Abstract

A 20-year experience with the treatment of 74 patients (83.8% children) for foreign body aspiration is reviewed. The object of this review is to show the clinical manifestations, the radiological findings, the nature and distribution in the bronchial tree, and complications due to longstanding (months or years) foreign bodies in the bronchial tree. The most common foreign bodies found were peanuts (13.5%), corn (13.5%), and beans (13.5%). The most frequent clinical manifestation was choking (67.5%), and the most frequent radiological finding was atelectasis (41.8%). The most serious complication was bronchiectasis needing resection in six patients who had the foreign body retained for years in the bronchial tree. In conclusion, in spite of an obvious foreign body in the tracheobronchial tree many cases are not diagnosed, and a longstanding foreign body in the airway may be responsible for irreversible complications.

Complications of tracheobronchial foreign body aspiration in children: report of 5 cases and review of the literature

“…Sometimes, FBA can be life threatening, acting as a significant cause of fatal home accidents in children younger than 6 years 3 and causing more than 300 deaths per year in the United States 4 . This higher occurrence in children has also been confirmed in a retrospective Brazilian study 5 .…”

Anesthetic management of tracheobronchial foreign body removal

“…The effect in the lung depends mainly on duration, site and degree of obstruction and also the types of foreign body, whether organic or inorganic. [1][2][3][9][10][11] The lungs may be emphysematous if the foreign body causes check valve effect causing obstruction mainly during expiration, collapse of the lung in ball valve effect that causes obstruction during inspiration. It may cause partial obstruction as in bypass valve without any significant radiological changes and total obstruction, as in stop valve mechanism, gives the feature of collapse.…”

“…9,14 Heimlich manouvre, both in adults and children could be life saving procedure and should be performed without delay in patients with severe respiratory distress. Consent for tracheostomy should be taken beforehand for emergency airway management.…”

“…Its sympathomimetic property is also beneficial, especially in the children, for the prevention of hypoxia induced bradycardia and vagal stimulation during intubation and during bronchoscopy. 2,3,8,9,13 Fasting protocol should be balanced against grade of airway compromise, and prioritized accordingly. In case of full stomach, the stomach should be emptied by inserting nasogastric tube and aspiration after airway is secure.…”

Forgotten Foreign Bodies in Bronchial Tree in Adult (A Report of Two Cases and Review of Literature)

“…On subsequent questioning the patient admitted to have had a prolonged episode of coughing nine months ago when he had a mutto~biryani meal along with alcohol. com and beans [8] as well as straight and safety pins [2]. There are also reports of aspiration of cobbler's shoe nail [6J, teeth [9J, stones, coins and buttons [2].…”