Abstract
We reviewed 40 cases of tracheo-bronchial foreign bodies in children who had been admitted to the Pediatric Surgery Department of Takatsuki General Hospital between April 1980 and March 2002. The male-female ratio was about 2:1, Approximately 88% were under 3 years of age, with the peak incidence of foreign-body aspiration occurring around the age of one year. The types of foreign bodies removed included nuts in 80% and peanuts in 60% of the cases. In our series, all foreign bodies could be removed with a ventilation bronchoscope. We removed the nut foreign bodies with a Fogarty balloon catheter, and other foreign bodies with a forceps. In 3 cases, we had to remove the foreign bodies in two procedures, and in 10 cases, where inflamation and granuloma occurred in the airway, we had to re-examine the airway almost 10 days later. In cases where the foreign body had been in the airway for a long time, removal was usually very difficult. Early diagnosis was therefore very important to prevent complications in an cases.
