The current state of diagnostics and management of foreign bodies in the respiratory tract in children

   Introduction. Foreign body aspiration (FBA) into the respiratory tract is a severe, life-threatening condition in children which requires urgent medical and diagnostic measures.

   Purpose. To study outcomes after FBA diagnostics and treatment in children and to develop an algorithm for diagnosing foreign bodies in the respiratory tract in this group of patients.

   Material and methods. Outcomes in 86 children who were hospitalized with suspected foreign bodies in their respiratory tract to the Clinic of Pediatric Surgery in Marat Ospanov West Kazakhstan Medical University, Aktobe, Republic of Kazakhstan in 2018–2022.

   Results. In 73 children, out of 86, FBA was confirmed. Distribution of children with FBA by age was as follows: less than one year – 5 (6.8 %) children; 1–3 years – 46 (63.1 %); 3–5 years – 7 (9.6 %), over 5 years – 15 (20.5 %). Localization of foreign bodies in the respiratory tract was as follows: larynx –6; trachea – 10, right main bronchus –26, left main bronchus – 30, both lower lobe bronchi – 1. The revealed foreign bodied were : peanuts – 24 (32.8 %) cases, sunflower seed – 13 (17.8 %), fountain pen cap – 7 (9.6 %), plastic toy part – 5 (6.8 %), fish bone – 5 (6.8 %), stationery carnation – 4 (5.5 %), bone – 4 (5.5 %), small rock – 4 (5.5 %), carrot – 3 (4.2 %), tooth – 2 (2.7 %), bead – 1 (1.4 %), food masses –1 (1.4 %). In the diagnostics of foreign bodies, anamnesis, clinical examination, radiation and endoscopic diagnostic techniques were of great importance. On analyzing the obtained clinical material, the researchers developed their own algorithm for FBA diagnosis. Foreign bodies were removed with rigid bronchoscopy in 55 children, with fibrobronchoscopy in 9 children, direct laryngoscopy – in 6 cases, at thoracotomy and bronchotomy – in 3 children. There were no complications associated with the removal of foreign bodies.

   Conclusions. Foreign bodies in the respiratory tract are met most often in children , aged 1–3. In doubtful cases, MSCT was used in addition to traditional diagnostic methods. It allows to exclude or identify foreign bodies invisible at X-ray images. FBA removal should be performed at the third level medical institutions.