Risk and management of children with a foreign body in the lower respiratory tract

Introduction: Foreign bodies in the lower respiratory tract are a serious problem in medical practice, often leading to death. Material and methods: The authors analyzed the risks and difficulties of treatment of 675 children with foreign body in the lower respiratory tract treated for the period 1995-2014 in the ENT clinic at the University Hospital "Queen Joanna-ISUL" Sofia and Children's Clinic at the University Hospital "Alexandrovska” Sofia, comparing them with data from the national statistics on the number of children with a foreign body in the lower airways dead before receiving medical care. Results: In this period the treatment is successfully completed at 663 children aged 0-3 years, but at 59 children more of one endoscopic procedure was performed. 12 children have continued the treatment at the Clinic Thoracic Surgery due to the inability of endscopic extraction of foreign bodies from the lower respiratory tract. Discussion: Foreign bodies in the lower respiratory tract in children, especially to 1 year of age are extremely dangerous because of the anatomical features of the respiratory system of children. They require more attention, experience in the diagnosis and good collaboration between pediatricians, bronchoscopy specialist, trained anesthesiologist and thoracic surgeon to avoid complications and death.