Complications of Rigid Bronchoscopy during Foreign Body Removal in Children

Background: Tracheobronchial foreign body aspirations, which threaten lives in childhood, also carry potential risks during and after bronchoscopy. Aim: To determine the frequency of various complications associated with rigid bronchoscopy for the management of foreign body tracheobronchial tree in children. Methods: This descriptive study was conducted in the Department of ENT and Head and Neck Surgery, Hayatabad medical complex Peshawar from June 2011 to Dec 2011 consisting of 103 cases of foreign body inhalation. All patients were treated by bronchoscopy and any encountered complication was noted and treated accordingly. Results: Among 103 patients foreign body inhalation was common in 3-4 years of age and was more common in right bronchus. Hypoxia and bradycardia occurred as a result of obstruction during bronchoscopy in 16 patients, laryngeal edema, spasm bronchospasm in 13, bleeding in 11, pneumothorax in 2 and pneumomediastinum in 1 patient. No patients needed thoracotomies because of foreign body aspiration and no death was reported. Conclusion: Bronchoscopy, performed for tracheobronchial foreign body aspiration, carries a potential life-threatening risk during and after the process. The clinician needs to be aware of these risks, take proper precautions, and perform bronchoscopy.