Objective: To analyze the factors influencing the diagnosis and treatment of tracheobronchial foreign bodies (TFBs) in children.
Methods: The clinical data of 300 consecutive children with suspected TFBs who were admitted to our department between January 2016 and December 2019 were retrospectively collected, including demographics, diagnosis, history of foreign body inhalation, preoperative chest computed tomography (CT) findings, duration of foreign body retention, time from admission to operation, operation duration, duration of hospitalization, and complications.
Results: Among the 300 cases, the male:female ratio was 193:107, and the age range was 6 months to 12 years (median age: 19 months). A total of 291 cases (97.0%) involved TFBs confirmed by rigid bronchoscopy, while the other 9 cases (3.0%) involved bronchopneumonia. The diagnostic accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of a history of foreign body inhalation and chest CT were 96.0%, 98.6%, and 11.1% and 97.7%, 97.6%, and 100%, respectively. The duration of hospitalization, time from admission to operation, and operation duration were all related to bronchopneumonia (P < .05).
Conclusions: A detailed history, adequate physical examination, and preoperative imaging examination help improve the diagnostic accuracy. Preoperative bronchopneumonia in children with TFBs will increase the surgical risks and treatment costs, prolonging the duration of hospitalization.
Keywords: bronchopneumonia; chest computerized tomography; history of foreign body inhalation; tracheobronchial foreign body.