بررسي هزار مورد آسپيراسيون جسم خارجي در كودكان

Background and Objectives: Foreign body aspiration is one of the critical emergencies in Otolaryngology that could be life-threatening. Early diagnosis and treatment prevent complications and deaths. Airway foreign bodies can mimic other conditions such as asthma and pneumonia. Materials and Methods:The retrospective study on 1000 cases with foreign body aspiration established by the Department of Otolaryngology at Tabriz central pediatric Hospital included variables as age, sex, clinical and radiological findings, type and location of foreign body, duration of enlodgement, referral system, and negative bronchoscopy. Results: Foreign body aspiration in boys was 1.7 times more than girls.The most common age group was 1-2 years old. The cough was the most common symptom.ln 24.6% the bronchoscopy was negative. CXR was normal in 54.2% and the most common abnormality was obstrucive emphysema.The most common location was right bronchus (44.2%) and the foreign body was of vegetative matter in 82.5%.In 29.7% duration of enlodgement was 1-5 days. Patients were referred by parents much more than others (42.4%). Conclusion: Delay in diagnosis leads to some complications.The lack of clinical and radiolgical findings could not rule out foreign body aspiration. In any patient with a suspected history of aspiration the bronchoscopy is necessary for definitive diagnosis. However, "Prevention is better than treatment". Thereforeʹ it would be better to give parents much more information about foreign body aspiration in children.