Abstract:

Objectives: The aim of this study is to present the demographic data of our patients who underwent bronchoscopy for suspected aspiration of a foreign body. We also assessed the sensitivity and specifity of the history, symptoms, physical examination and radiological findings in these patients. Patients and Methods: One hundred and two patient underwent bronchoscopy for suspected foreign body aspiration during a 23-months period. Bronchoscopy was performed under general anesthesia with a rigid bronchoscope. Results: A foreign body was detected in 78 of these 102 patients. The male-to-female ratio was 1.7: 1, mean age was 30.4 months and median age was 18 months. Nut and sunflower seed were the most common types of foreign bodies. There were three minor complications and no death in our series. No tracheotomy or thoracotomy was required in our patients. The sensitivity and specifity of history, symptoms, physical examination and radiological findings for suspected foreign body aspiration were 100% and 4.2%, 97.4% and 8.4%, 89.7% and 37.5%, 76.8% and 50%, respectively. Conclusion: A chocking crisis is an absolute indication for bronchoscopy. Our low complication rate allowed us to perform bronchoscopy more liberally in patients with suspected foreign body aspiration. While the sensitivity of history, symptoms and physical findings were very high, the specifity of history and symptoms were very low.

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