Publication:

Retrieval of foreign body bronchus in paediatric age group: a challenge

Foreign body (FB) aspiration can be a cause of serious morbidity and occasional mortality in pediatric population. Sometimes the diagnosis is delayed when the history of FB aspiration is not forthcoming, not witnessed or when parents fail to appreciate the symptoms. Unless there is a high degree of suspicion these cases may easily be missed and may be treated for a prolonged duration as upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) or pneumonia.  A careful history plus a high degree of clinical suspicion is crucial. Involvement of other specialties is the key to diagnose and remove a FB from airway successfully. We present a case series of three cases of FB bronchus and challenges faced during their retrieval. The aim of this report is to highlight the importance of history taking, meticulous preparation, and precision required to remove a foreign body bronchus.