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.