How Can We Do Better? Learning From 617 Pediatric Patients With Airway Foreign Bodies Over a 2-Year Period in an Asian Population

Tracheostomy-Assisted Foreign Body Removal: Insights From a Case Series and Literature Review

BACKGROUND

Foreign body aspiration into the trachea is a common occurrence in children. While most foreign bodies in the airways can be removed using rigid tracheoscopy, there are instances where tracheostomy or tracheotomy is needed. This article presents a series of cases in which tracheostomy was necessary to remove foreign bodies, and summarizes the relevant experiences and lessons learned.

METHODS

We reviewed a total of 7 cases in which tracheostomy and rigid tracheoscopy were combined for foreign body removal out of a larger cohort of 1559 cases at Shenzhen Children's Hospital in Guangdong, China over a 20-year period.

RESULTS

The combined use of tracheostomy and rigid tracheoscopy resulted in successful removal of foreign bodies in all 7 patients reviewed in this study. Six patients developed complications of tracheotomy, mainly including mediastinal emphysema (5/7), subcutaneous emphysema (3/7), and pneumothorax (1/7). Tracheotomy was temporary in all patients.

CONCLUSION

In cases where a foreign body in the trachea is too large or has irregular, sharp edges, is embedded in submucosal tissues with edema, cannot be passed smoothly through the vocal cords, or local endoscopic facilities are inadequate, a tracheotomy may be necessary. However, this approach should be used with caution, and close collaboration with anesthesiologists and careful management of intraoperative emergencies are crucial for improving the success rate of the procedure. Additionally, the complications should be noted, paying particular attention to early complications such as pneumothorax, pneumomediastinum, and bleeding.

Correlative Factors for Types of Tracheobronchial Foreign Bodies Encountered in Children

OBJECTIVE

To characterize the correlative factors for types of tracheobronchial foreign bodies (TFBs) encountered in children.

METHODS

All included patients diagnosed with TFB underwent rigid bronchoscopy as the first surgery in the Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University. The data of 1026 patients aged 0-18 years were retrospectively collected between February 2019 and January 2022.

RESULTS

About 94.44% of the children with TFB had organic FBs, among which, peanuts were the most common FBs, followed by melon seeds and walnuts. The most common inorganic FBs included pen points or caps, plastic toys, and plastic papers. As compared to the children with organic FBs, those with inorganic FBs consisted of a higher proportion of children aged ≥3 years old, a time before surgery of >7 days, dyspnea, FBs size of >10 mm, longer operation time, more than two operation procedures, and atelectasis. On the other hand, the proportion of children with aspiration history, cough, and obstructive emphysema in the inorganic FB group was lower as compared to the organic FBs (P< .05).

CONCLUSIONS

The related factors related to the patient's characteristics, symptoms, operation situations, and preoperative complications can be predicted based on the identification of FB type.

Risk factors for difficult removal of tracheobronchial foreign bodies in children by rigid bronchoscopy

OBJECTIVE

To characterize the risk factors for difficult removal of tracheobronchial foreign body (FB) by rigid bronchoscopy in children.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed clinical data of 1026 pediatric patients (age: 0-18 years) diagnosed with tracheobronchial FB between September 2018 and August 2021. All patients underwent rigid bronchoscopy as the first intervention at our hospital.

RESULTS

Children aged 1-3 years accounted for 83.7% cases in our cohort. The most common symptoms were cough and wheeze. FBs were more frequently found in the right bronchus, and trachea FBs accounted for only 8.19% cases. The success rate of rigid bronchoscopy in a single attempt was 97.27%. 12.18% of the cases were defined as difficult removal of FB. On univariate analysis, age, CT findings (pneumonia), type of FB, diameter of FB, FB location, granulation tissue formation, and the seniority of the surgeon were identified as risk factors for difficult removal of tracheobronchial FBs. On multivariate analysis, age ≥3 years, FB diameter ≥10 mm, FBs located in left bronchus, multiple FBs, granulation tissue, and the seniority of surgeon (<3 years, ≥5 years) were independent risk factors for difficult removal.

CONCLUSIONS

Age, FB diameter, location of FB, granulation tissue formation, and the seniority of the surgeon were risk factors for difficult removal of FBs by rigid bronchoscopy.

The Role of CT Scan in Pediatric Airway Foreign Bodies

Objective

We aim to determine the utility of CT scan as a method to accurately confirm pediatric airway foreign bodies (AFBs), the current gold standard of which is chest X-ray as the primary imaging modality in the investigation screening of AFBs with progression to microlaryngobronchoscopy.

Methods

A retrospective cohort study of children diagnosed with suspected AFBs between July 2019 and June 2020 was conducted. The primary outcome of missed AFBs from radiologic investigations was recorded.

Results

A total of 226 children with an average age of 1.94 years were included in this study. One hundred and two children were eventually admitted to the hospital for microlaryngobronchoscopy. A total of 89 cases were initially examined by chest X-ray with the diagnosis confirmed in 26 cases. The initial examination was chest CT scan in 105 cases, of which the diagnosis was confirmed in 46 cases. The initial examination was chest CT scan with airway reconstruction in 32 cases, and the diagnosis was confirmed in 17 cases. Patients with negative chest CT scan with airway reconstruction were observed to have resolution of symptoms with no further need for bronchoscopy.

Conclusion

Chest CT scan with airway reconstruction had the highest rate of confirmed diagnosis of pediatric AFBs on initial scanning, followed by chest CT scan, and finally chest X-ray with fluoroscopy; there was no missed diagnosis in chest CT scan with airway reconstruction. Chest CT scan with airway reconstruction can accurately and quickly detect AFBs and reduce unnecessary bronchoscopy.

The characteristics of foreign bodies aspirated by children across different continents: A comparative review

BACKGROUND

Foreign body aspiration (FBA) is a common issue in pediatric emergencies, with regional variations. Various cultures and foods, parents' and physicians' inadequate experience, and lack of bronchoscopy equipment are some attributable factors in the regional variation of FBA.

AIM

To more accurately represent the demographic characteristics of aspirated foreign bodies (FBs) across various continents, this review attempted to provide organized information based on the reviewed articles.

METHODOLOGY

A search was conducted in PubMed/PubMed Central, EMBASE, and google scholar. From the 36 included articles, information on age, gender, bronchoscopy type, type of FB, location, history of choking, and time elapsed between aspiration and admission were extracted.

RESULTS

A total of 14,469 cases were evaluated. According to the findings, children under two accounted for more than 75% of FBAs. Nuts and seeds were the most common FBs in most countries, whereas plastic and metal objects had higher rates in Brazil, and calcified objects were more prevalent in Thailand. The right bronchus was the most frequent location, and rigid bronchoscopy was the most often utilized type of bronchoscope. In addition, a significant percentage of patients were referred to the emergency rooms in the first 12-24 h following the aspiration incident. Moreover, Asian patients reported more choking history, and Europeans had fewer witnesses of FBA.

CONCLUSIONS

There is a lack of standardized reporting systems and organized guidelines in pediatric FBA. To select the ideal time for endoscopies and create educational programs, a collaboration between experienced researchers, pediatric pulmonologists, radiologists, and otolaryngologists is required.

Title-Optical Forceps: The Real Boon for Surgeon, Residents and Patients with Foreign Body Aspiration

Management of aspirated foreign bodies in children becomes very challenging in absence of most appropriate instruments. Rigid bronchoscopy has evolved in the long course of history. The advent of Hopkins rod telescope and optical forceps has enhanced the efficacy as well as the safety of removing tracheobronchial foreign bodies. Total 36 children of age less than 16 year with confirmed diagnosis of airway F.B. were included in the study. Two types of forceps were used: (1)Optical forceps combined with Hopkins rod lens telescope[n = 25] (2)Standard forceps [n = 11]. Most common age group was 1-5 year [n = 26] with male preponderance [n = 20]. Most common site was right bronchus in 13 cases (RMB-11, RBI-1, RLLB-1) followed by Left main bronchus in 11 cases, trachea in 10 cases, bilateral bronchus and sub-glottis each in 1 case. Vegetative F.B. were found in majority of cases [n = 26]. Mean grasping attempt, Mean bronchoscopic insertion and Mean time taken from insertion of forceps to removal of F.B. were less in optical forceps as compared to standard forceps with significant p-value. Optical forceps have advantage of high resolution & magnified view of airway, spring action in handle and better tactile sensation. These helps in correctly identifying the type, size and site of tracheobronchial foreign body. Precise grasping attempts with optical forceps reduces the chances of complications. Optical forceps have given the new dimension to the Rigid Bronchoscopy and proved to be the real boon for surgeons, residents and patients with F.B. aspiration.

Tracheobronchial Foreign Bodies in Children: Experience From 1,328 Patients in China

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the clinical characteristics of tracheobronchial foreign body (FB) cases in a pediatric Chinese population.

METHODS

The clinical data of pediatric patients aged 0-18 years old diagnosed with a tracheobronchial FB in the Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University between September 2018 and August 2021 were analyzed retrospectively.

RESULTS

Among 1,328 included cases, 92.09% of patients were <3 years old, the male to female ratio was 1.86:1. The prevalence of tracheobronchial FB was similar between patients living in rural and urban areas and tracheobronchial FBs were more common in winter. The most common presenting symptoms were cough and wheezing. The most common CT findings was local obstruction or tracheobronchial narrowing, followed by obstructive emphysema of lung and pneumonia. The 11.3% of cases that did not report FB aspiration on admission had a longer time to hospital admission and longer hospitalization time than cases reporting FB aspiration (P < 0.05). The most common FB type was nuts (81.17%). FBs were more frequently located in the right bronchus, and 64 (4.82%) cases involved multiple FBs. FBs were expelled by coughing in only 4.07% of cases. For the other cases, FB removal by first bronchoscopy in our hospital was successful and complete in 96.86% of cases. 1.51% of patients had hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) and the location of FBs was a possible risk factor for HIE (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Tracheobronchial FBs occurred most commonly in children <3 years old. If asphyxia occurs in children which FBs aspirated, emergency treatment is needed to reduce the occurrence of HIE. Rigid bronchoscopy remains the first-line method for FB removal in children.