Sharp foreign bodies in laryngotracheobronchial airway of children: Our experiences at a tertiary care teaching hospital

Abstract

Background: Sharp foreign bodies (FBs) are rarely found in the laryngotracheobronchial (LTB) tree which may cause threatening to the life. Objective: The aim of this study is to evaluate or study the clinical details of the inhaled sharp FBs and its management in children. Methods: This is a retrospective descriptive study done in between April 2015 and May 2020. There were 22 children with inhaled sharp FB in the airway enrolled in this study. The diagnosis was done from proper history taking, clinical examination, and the X-ray of the neck, chest, and abdomen of the children. All of them underwent rigid bronchoscopy with grasping forceps for the removal of these sharp FBs. Results: Out of the 22 children, 13 were boys (59.09%) and 9 were girls (40.90%). Out of 22 cases, 4 FBs were found in the proximal part of the airway and 18 were seen in distal airways. The most common clinical presentation was chocking sensation with cough. Conclusion: Early diagnosis and prompt rigid bronchoscopy are required for preventing inhalation of the sharp FB in the LTB. Proper education to the caregivers or parents is very helpful to prevent this critical clinical entity.