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Occult Foreign Body Aspirations in Pediatric Patients: 20-years of Experience
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  • Bo Liu,
  • Fengxia Ding,
  • Yong An,
  • Yonggang Li,
  • Zhengxia Pan,
  • Gang Wang,
  • Jiangtao Dai,
  • Hongbo Li,
  • Chun Wu
Bo Liu
Chongqing Medical University Affiliated Children's Hospital

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Fengxia Ding
Chongqing Medical University Affiliated Children's Hospital
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Yong An
Chongqing Medical University Affiliated Children's Hospital
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Yonggang Li
Chongqing Medical University Affiliated Children's Hospital
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Zhengxia Pan
Chongqing Medical University Affiliated Children's Hospital
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Gang Wang
Chongqing Medical University Affiliated Children's Hospital
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Jiangtao Dai
Chongqing Medical University Affiliated Children's Hospital
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Hongbo Li
Chongqing Medical University Affiliated Children's Hospital
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Chun Wu
Chongqing Medical University Affiliated Children's Hospital
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Abstract

The purpose of our study was to assess the frequency of occult foreign body aspiration (FBA) and to evaluate the diagnostic difficulties and therapeutic methods for these patients. Between February 2000 and February 2020, 3557 patients with the diagnosis of FBA were treated in our department. Thirty-five patients with occult FBA were included in this study. A retrospective analysis of medical records was performed. Twenty-three male patients (65.7%) and 12 female patients (34.3%) were hospitalized due to occult FBA. The average age was 3.60 years (range 9 months-12 years). Most of the patients were younger than 3 years old (n=25, 71.4%). Coughing (n=35, 100%) and wheezing (n=18, 51.4%) were the main symptoms and signs. All the patients were found to have a FBA under the fiberoptic bronchoscope. The most common organic foreign bodies were peanuts (n=10) and the most common inorganic foreign bodies were pen caps (n=5). The extraction of foreign bodies under rigid bronchoscopy was applied successfully in 34 patients. Only one patient needed a surgical intervention. Occult FBA should always be considered in the differential diagnosis of chronic or recurrent respiratory diseases that are poorly explained, even in the absence of a previous history of aspiration.
Dec 2020Published in BMC Pulmonary Medicine volume 20 issue 1. 10.1186/s12890-020-01356-8