SEX AND AGE WISE DISTRIBUTION, PRESENTATION AND SUCCESSFUL REMOVAL AND MORTALITY OF FOREIGN BODY ASPIRATION USING RIGID BRONCHOSCOPE IN CHILDREN OF DISTRICT D.I.KHAN, PAKISTAN

Abstract

Background: Foreign body aspiration commonly occurs in young children and is associated with high degree of mortality and morbidity. The objectives of this study were to determine epidemiologic, clinical and endoscopic perspectives of foreign body aspiration in children of District D.I.Khan, Pakistan. Materials & Methods: This descriptive study was conducted in Department of ENT, Gomal Medical College/ DHQ Teaching Hospital, D.I.Khan, Pakistan from November 2017-April 2019. 105 children with suspected foreign body (FB) aspiration were included. All patients underwent rigid bronchoscopy under GA. After check X-ray and one day observation, they were discharged. Variables were sex, age in years and age groups, successful removal, mortality, history of FB aspiration, cough, wheezing, choking, stridor, reduced air entry and location of FB. Age in years was numeric, age groups ordinal and all other variables were on nominal scale. Age in years was described by mean & SD and others by count and percentage. Results: The sample with suspected foreign body aspiration (n=105) included 61 (58.1%) boys and 44 (41.9%) girls, with 20 (19.05%) in age group 0-2.0 years, 58 (55.24%) 2.0-5.0 years and 27 (25.71%) 5.0-14 years. Chest X-Ray was done in 98/105 (93.33%) cases. Frequency of successful FB removal by rigid bronchoscopy was 86/105 (81.90%). Mortality was none. Out of 86 confirmed cases, 51 (59.30%) were boys and 35 (40.70%) girls, with 19 (22.10%) in age group 0-2.0 years, 55 (63.95%) 2.0-5.0 years and 12 (13.95%) 5.0-14 years. Mean age was 3.57±1.78. History of FB aspiration was in 75/86 (87.21%), cough 65 (75.58%), stridor 14 (16.28%), wheezing 54 (62.79%) and choking 28 (32.56%) cases. Reduced air entry was 44 (51.16%) on right side, 17 (19.77%) on left side and 25 (29.05%) bilateral. Location of FB was larynx 6 (9.98%), trachea 20 (23.26%), right bronchus 44 (51.16%) and left bronchus 16 (18.60%). Conclusions: Foreign body aspiration in children in not an uncommon event. The parents should try to prevent such event, and if there, should present the child to emergency department of a hospital. ENT surgeons are supposed to evaluate and plan an earlier intervention as rigid bronchoscopy for these children.