Inhaled Foreign Body Impaction: A Review of Literature in Malaysian Children

A Foreign Body Aspiration Leading to Pneumothorax: A Case of Airway Emergency

Foreign body (FB) aspiration is a matter that should not be taken lightly. The presence of a foreign object might lead to hazardous complications, particularly in the pediatric population. These complications depend on the type and location of the aspirated object as the tracheobronchial tree has a very small diameter, and foreign bodies become stuck in the upper airways of children, causing stridor and sudden difficulty in breathing. Impaction of a foreign body in the right bronchial tree is more frequent due to the relatively straighter alignment of the right mainstem of the trachea, as opposed to the left side. Herein, we present a 10-year-old Malay boy who accidentally aspirated a pencil cap. An urgent computed tomography (CT) of the thorax revealed a suspicious intraluminal FB in the bronchus leading to pneumothorax and pneumomediastinum. He underwent a right bronchoscopy and a successful FB removal.

The global, regional, and national burden of foreign bodies from 1990 to 2019: a systematic analysis of the global burden of disease study 2019

BACKGROUND

Foreign bodies (FBs) are a common emergency in medical institutions, that can occur in any area and among people of any age, which are common public health problems. Understanding the epidemiological characteristics of FBs is crucial for their prevention and control. The purpose of this study was to analyze the epidemiological characteristics of FBs worldwide through the data from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019 (GBD 2019).

METHODS

We obtained data from the GBD 2019, which is an important public database to understand the disease burden of FBs. Joinpoint was used to analyze temporal trends in the incidence and death trends of FBs, which is widely used to study the long-term temporal trend of the burden of diseases. SaTScan was used to detect spatial-temporal clusters of pulmonary aspiration and foreign body in the airway (PAFBA), which is based on a Poisson model, scanning the number of people and diseases in the study area to obtain the spatial-temporal clusters of diseases.

RESULTS

Globally, the age-standardized incidence rate (ASIR) and the age-standardized death rate (ASDR) of FBs in 2019 were 869.23/100,000 (679.92/100,000-1120.69/100,000) and 1.55/100,000 (1.41/100,000-1.67/100,000), respectively. The ASIR and ASDR showed downtrends with average annual percent changes (AAPCs) of -0.31% and - 1.47% from 1990 to 2019. Of note, the ASIR showed an uptrend during 2010-2019, especially in high, high-middle, and middle SDI regions. Stratified analysis by age group showed that ASIR increased in each age group in recent years. From 1990 to 2019, the ASDR in the over-70 age group showed an uptrend worldwide, especially in high and high-middle SDI regions. In different types of FBs, the ASDR of PAFBA was the highest. The death burden of PAFBA was mainly clustered in 82 countries during 1993-2007, such as Canada, Cuba, and Mexico.

CONCLUSION

The most important goal is to improve public awareness and emergency knowledge of FBs through publicity methods, such as the internet or offline activities, and to improve laws and regulations. Additionally, different age groups need different targeted measures, such as strengthening the care of children, caring for elderly individuals, improving necessary monitoring programs and reporting systems, conducting effective hazard assessments, and publicity and education activities.

Better Safe Than Sorry: A Rare Case of a Laryngeal Foreign Body and the Unconventional Use of Cook® Airway

Foreign body (FB) inhalation in the pediatric population is a common emergency referral in otolaryngology practice. Mismanagement can lead to significant morbidity or even mortality. Anesthesiologists conventionally use the Cook® airway exchange catheter (CAEC) during endotracheal tube exchange in the intensive care unit, but its usage as an oxygen conduit is beneficial in other airway procedures. A healthy two-year-old boy was brought to casualty for allegedly choking on a boneless chicken meat bolus during mealtime. The initial presentation showed that the child was comfortable with soft audible stridor without signs of respiratory distress. Bedside video laryngoscopy revealed a whitish FB in the proximity of the vocal cord. The patient was subjected to emergency direct laryngoscopy and bronchoscopy to retrieve the FB. Under general anesthesia, the true nature of FB was revealed, which was an embedded chicken bone into the laryngeal ventricle, causing a significant reduction of the rima glottis opening. CAEC was used to maintain oxygenation during the complex extraction process, and the child was discharged without any morbidity. Eyewitness history is an essential component in diagnosing FB inhalation in the pediatric population. Despite that, identifying potential difficulty is important to provide backup, especially in the case of unexpected events during managing airway emergencies.

Supraglottic Foreign Body Missed for One Month in a Child

Foreign body (FB) aspiration in children can result in serious complications that can lead to even death. We present a case of a one-year-old girl child with a history of choking one month prior while she was feeding. A bolus of rice was removed at a local clinic. Consequently, within 24 hours, she developed hoarseness and noisy breathing which was treated as an upper respiratory tract infection at two different clinics. This case report aims to highlight the need for otolaryngology consultation in a child with non-resolving respiratory symptoms following episodes of choking. This will prompt an immediate surgical intervention that could prevent potential morbidity and mortality as a result of a compromised airway.

Risk factors associated with radiolucent foreign body inhalation in adults: a 10-year retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

Foreign body aspiration (FBA) is a serious condition with high morbidity and mortality rates. Although chest radiography is generally the first radiologic modality used in diagnosis, a substantial percentage of foreign bodies are radiolucent in adults with diagnosis challenging.

METHODS

Retrospective review of adult patients with FBA diagnosed by flexible electronic bronchoscopy from 2012 to 2022 collecting demographics, history, hospital presentation, radiographic, and operative details. Risk factors associated with radiolucent foreign body inhalation in adults were explored using appropriate statistical methods.

RESULTS

Between 1 January 2012 and 1 January 2022, 114 adult patients diagnosed with FBA were enrolled. The median age of participants was 65 years (IQR 52-74). Multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) examinations identified 28 cases (25%) showing direct visualization of the foreign body (defined as the radiopaque group) and 86 cases (75%) in the radiolucent group. Multivariable stepwise linear regression analysis showed increased odds of radiolucent foreign body inhalation in adults associated with pneumonic patches in MDCT (OR 6.99; 95% CI 1.80-27.22; P = 0.005) and plants/meat foreign bodies (OR 6.17; 95% CI 1.12-33.96; P = 0.04). A witnessed choking history (OR 0.02; 95% CI 0-0.14; P < 0.001) was a protective factor of radiolucent foreign body inhalation in adults.

CONCLUSIONS

Unlike radiopaque FBA, in those presenting with a suspected radiolucent foreign body aspiration, the diagnosis is far more challenging. Risk factors such as lacking a choking history, non-resolving pneumonia (pneumonic patches) in MDCT findings, and plants/meat foreign bodies may help in the early diagnosis of radiolucent foreign body inhalation in adults. Further prospective multicenter studies should be conducted to validate the findings.

A new scoring system and clinical algorithm for the management of suspected foreign body aspiration in children: a retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

Cases of foreign body aspiration in children may be encountered in emergency departments. A suggestive history is important in diagnosing aspirated foreign body owing to the difficulty in making a diagnosis on the basis of an abnormal physical examination or chest radiography alone. The aim of this study was to examine the sensitivity and specificity of the presenting symptoms, physical examination, and radiologic findings as predictors of foreign body aspiration in children. In addition, a feasible simple algorithm with a scoring system was generated to indicate bronchoscopic investigation.

METHODS

In a retrospective cohort, medical records of patients aged less than 16 years with suspected foreign body aspiration who underwent flexible or rigid bronchoscopy were included. Data including age, sex, symptoms, physical examination findings, radiological features, nature and location of the foreign body, and outcome of the bronchoscopy were collected, and multivariable binary logistic regression analysis was employed for prediction of foreign body aspiration.

RESULTS

A total of 203 children were included, and the model showed excellent discrimination power for positive foreign body aspiration (area under the curve = 0.911) with an accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of 86.2, 90.6, and 76.6%, respectively. The total weighted risk score at a cut-off > 2 showed a significant good power of discrimination (area under the curve = 0.879), with a sensitivity of 79.9% and specificity of 84.4%. Accordingly, a clinical algorithm was recommended.

CONCLUSIONS

The proposed scoring system and clinical algorithm might help in decision making with regard to the need and type of bronchoscopy in children presenting with potential foreign body aspiration. However, further prospective multicenter studies should be conducted to validate this scoring system.

Flexible Fiberoptic Bronchoscopy: Indications, Diagnostic Yield and Complications

Objective

Flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy (FFB) has become an essential procedure for diagnosing and managing various respiratory conditions. We aimed to assess the main indications, diagnostic yield, and safety of FFB in our institute.

Methods

A total of 216 patients who underwent FFB between July 2009 and June 2012 at King Abdul-Aziz Medical City, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, were reviewed retrospectively. Indications of the procedure, the diagnostic yield of variable respiratory diseases, and complications were reported.

Result

Out of 216 patients, 210 (97.2%) completed FFB. One hundred and ninety-eight (91.7%) bronchoscopies were for diagnostic purposes, and the remaining 12 (5.6%) were for therapeutic aim. The mean age of patients was 50 years ± 20 years and patients. Respiratory infection, malignancy, pulmonary infiltrate in febrile neutropenia (FN), and hemoptysis in order of frequency were the main indications. The overall diagnostic yield was 46%. Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) was the most common indication (26.8%) and was identified in 37.7%, whereas pneumonia was confirmed in 46.3% of the patients. Malignancy was established in 35.3% of suspected cases, while eosinophilic pneumonia was diagnosed in 100%. The diagnostic yield in pulmonary infiltrates of human immunodeficiency viral (HIV) was 85.7%. Alveolar hemorrhage was the most common cause of hemoptysis. Out of therapeutic bronchoscopy, lung collapse was the main indication. There is no mortality and complications occurred in 1.5% of the cases.

Conclusion

MTB was the most common indication of FFB, followed by malignancy. It has a high diagnostic yield in eosinophilic pneumonia and pulmonary infiltrates in HIV patients. FFB is shown to be a safe modality for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes.   

A Five-Year Review on Pediatric Foreign Body Aspiration

Introduction  Foreign body aspiration is a leading cause of accidental death in children. Clinical presentation varies from non-specific respiratory symptoms to respiratory failure making diagnosis challenging.

Objective  To review pediatric patients who underwent bronchoscopy due to suspicion of foreign body aspiration at a tertiary center in Malaysia.

Methods  We retrospectively studied patients < 11 years old who underwent bronchoscopy from 2008 to 2018.

Results  Over the 10-year period, 20 patients underwent bronchoscopy, and 16 were found to have foreign body aspiration with equal gender distribution. The most common age group was < 3 years old (75%). The most common clinical presentations were choking (82%) and stridor (31%). Foreign bodies were removed using flexible bronchoscope in 8 cases (50%), and difficulties were encountered in 6 cases (75%). Rigid ventilating bronchoscope was used in 8 cases (50%) with no difficulty. The most common object found was peanut (19%). The majority of foreign bodies were lodged in the right bronchus (43%). Eight patients (80%) received delayed treatment due to delayed diagnosis. The length of hospital stay was longer in the younger age groups.

Conclusion  Clinical presentation and chest radiograph findings were comparable across all age groups. The most difficulties encountered during foreign body removal were via flexible bronchoscope, in children < 3 years old. There was no significant correlation between age and type of foreign body aspiration. The majority of patients who received delayed treatment were < 3 years old. The length of hospital stay was longer in the younger age groups.

Distal Airway Aspirated Metallic Foreign Body, Case Report of Spontaneous Expectoration

Patient: Male, 7-year-old

Final Diagnosis: Foreign body aspiration

Symptoms: Choking

Medication: —

Clinical Procedure: —

Specialty: Surgery