台耳醫誌

OBJECTIVE: To share our experience of pediatric airway foreign body(AFB), including clinical manifestations, managements, and complications.
MATERIAL AND METHODS: A single-institution retrospective review in children suspected with airway foreign bodies receiving rigid bronchoscopy between 2002 and 2021.
RESULTS: 116 patients were enrolled with a mean age of 2.11 years old. There were 75 male and 41 female patients (1.82 : 1). AFB was identified in 111 patients (95.6%). The initial clinical manifestations were witnessed choking episodes (71.6%), followed by cough (59.5%) and shortness of breath (34.5%). Most (62.1%) radiologic findings were non-specific on image studies. Organic particles (81.1%) were the most common inhaled object while mainstem bronchus (58.6%) was the most commonly affected location. Operative time was longer when foreign bodies were in the mainstem bronchus or distal to it. The incidence risk of disease-related complications and procedure-related complications were 31.9% and 5.2% respectively. Linear regression showed age (β = 0.46, p = 0.01), operation time (β = 0.02, p = 0.007), and adverse events (β = 2.9, p < 0.001) were associated with longer hospital stay. During the past two decades, a downward trend was observed in the case number of rigid bronchoscopy for AFB removal.
CONCLUSIONS: With an experienced surgeon and trained staff, timely rigid bronchoscopy is a safe and lifesaving procedure for pediatric foreign body inhalation. (J Taiwan Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2025; 59:160-170)