BRONCHOSCOPY AS A THERAPEUTIC AND DIAGNOSTIC TOOL- A 10 YEAR RETROSPECTIVE STUDY- SUR HOSPITAL EXPERIENCE

A ten year retrospective study with the treatment of 48 patients (83 % children) who were admitted for suspected foreign body aspiration in the department of otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery is reviewed. The object of this study was to show the clinical manifestations, the radiological findings, the nature and distribution in the tracheobronchial tree and complications due to long standing foreign bodies in the bronchial tree. Males (25) were more commonly involved as compared to females (23). Right main bronchus was involved in 7 patients (29%), left main bronchus in 8 patients (33%) and trachea in 9 patients (38%). The most common foreign bodies found were Sunflower seed (25%), watermelon seed (17%), and abhaya scarf pin (17%). The most frequent clinical manifestation was cough (46%) and most of the chest radiological finding did not detect any abnormality (52%). In conclusion, in spite of an obvious foreign body in the tracheobronchial tree many cases are not diagnosed because sudden choking at the time of aspiration in children may not be noticed.