Frequency of tracheobronchial foreign bodies and their management in urban population of Sindh.

OBJECTIVE To assess the common foreign bodies in urban areas of Sindh, and the presentation, problems and complications during their removal through rigid bronchoscopy. METHODS The descriptive study was conducted at the Ear, Nose and Throat Department and the Department of Head and Neck Surgery of Liaquat University Hospital, Hyderabad, and Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, Karachi, from April 2009 to October 2010. Fifty patients with strong suspicion of foreign body inhalation in whom rigid bronchoscopy was done were included in the study. A definitive diagnostic protocol was applied and rigid bronchoscopy was done to search and remove the foreign bodies. The data was fed into SPSS version 15 for descriptive analysis. RESULTS In our study,28(56%) cases were male and 22(44%) were female. The age range was 1-7 years. Most of the victims (n=21; 42%) were over 3 years of age. Commonest symptom of presentation was dyspnoea (n=34; 68%) and the commonest sign of presentation was decreased unilateral air entry (n=25; 50%). Most of the foreign bodies were impacted in the right main bronchus (n=26; 52%). The most retrieved foreign body was betel nut (n=23; 46%). The commonest complication of bronchoscopy was airway oedema which occurred in 13 (26%) patients. The successful removal of exogenous foreign body was achieved in 41 (82%), and the mortality rate was 3 (6%). CONCLUSION Delay in the diagnosis of foreign body inhalation translates into a higher risk of complications. Therefore, early bronchoscopy should be done on suspicion. Early recognition at both parental and clinical levels should be promoted through public awareness.