AERODIGESTIVE-TRACT FOREIGN-BODIES IN CHILDREN - PITFALLS IN MANAGEMENT

A review of the charts of pediatric patients admitted with the final d iagnosis of tracheobronchial or esophageal foreign bodies was carried out for the 5 years prior to September 30, 1992. Removal of foreign bo dies from the aerodigestive tract poses little problem for the experie nced endoscopist, and the inference that the diagnosis and initial man agement of patients should be equally well performed often follows. Ho wever, initial misdiagnosis, delayed diagnosis, inappropriate methods of patient transfer, or great variation in diagnosis methods still pro vide ample opportunity for delay in treatment and complication. pitfal ls in management occurred because of incomplete radiographic evaluatio n, confusion due to prior or concurrent illness, improper patient tran sfer, unusual presentation, and inappropriate methods of foreign-body removal. Demonstrative cases and summary statistics are presented.