Endoscopic Management of Foreign Bodies in the Airways and Esophagus of Children

Foreign body in the esophagus and airway in children is an important cause of morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study is to summarize the experience of diagnosis and treatment of tracheobronchial and esophageal foreign bodies in children. The medical records of 15 such cases admitted in Pediatric Surgery Department, Gauhati Medical College, Guwahati from June 2008 to May 2015 were analyzed. Amongst these 15 children, 9 were with airway and 6 with esophageal foreign bodies. Out of these 12 were boys (80%) and 3 girls (20%). Direct laryngoscopy, 3 by rigid esophagoscopy and 1 by flexible endoscopy removed two esophageal foreign bodies. All the 9 airway foreign bodies were removed by rigid bronchoscopy with the help of optical forceps. Seven of these were in the right bronchus and one each in the left bronchus and carina. Two patients needed ventilation after the procedure. The most common foreign body in the esophagus was coin and that of airway was peanut. There were variable period morbidities but all of these fifteen patients went home without any residual effect.

Timely diagnosis and management of foreign bodies in children is utmost important and this can reduce the complications and mortality related to it.