Foreign Bodies of Airway: Our Experience at a Tertiary Care Center in Gujarat

Background: Foreign bodies of airway are a common cause of mortality in pediatric age group. The management of these requires multi-departmental approach. In our study we share our experience of foreign body management over a period of 3 years at a tertiary care center in Gujarat.

Aims: To study incidence, age and gender distribution of foreign bodies in airway; To establish the methods for managing foreign bodies of airway, to study the complications of foreign bodies.

Methods and Management: A prospective study was performed in the department of Otorhinolaryngology in GG. Hospital, Jamnagar, from the year 2018 to 2021. Data was collected for patients with foreign body aspiration.

Results: The most common age group being between 1-2 years of age (48.27%). The mean age in our study was 25.6 months. There was a slight male predilection of 51.72% (n=30), and 48.27% (n= 28) being females. Choking and paroxysmal coughing were the most common symptoms, seen in 68.96% and 77.58% of the patients respectively. Right main bronchus was more commonly affected, 51.72% cases. Peanuts were the most commonly encountered foreign bodies, 58.62%. Laryngeal spasm was the commonest intra operative complication. Post operatively pneumonia was the commonest complication, treated with antibiotics and steroids.

Conclusion: Foreign bodies in the airway are associated with a significantly higher morbidity and mortality. The difficulty in removal of the foreign bodies depends on their location and type, the instruments and the anesthesia available. It continues to pose a challenge even for experienced endoscopists, however, a pre-operative CT scan is extremely helpful.