Foreign Body Aspiration in Children at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital
Mawutor Dzogbefia
Department of Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT), Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), Kumasi, Ghana.
Theophilus Adjeso *
Department of Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University for Development Studies, Tamale, Ghana.
Duah Mohammed Issahalq
Department of Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT), Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), Kumasi, Ghana.
Rita Larsen-Reindorf
Department of Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT), Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), Kumasi, Ghana.
Anna Konney
Department of Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT), Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), Kumasi, Ghana.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Introduction: Foreign body aspiration is a common life threatening event. Foreign bodies in the tracheobronchial tree account for significant morbidity and mortality in children and
a high index of suspicion is required for prompt diagnosis
Objectives: To review cases of aspirated foreign bodies in children at the Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) Department, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH).
Materials and Methods: This was a six-year retrospective study conducted at the ENT Department, KATH. Data evaluated included age, sex, nature of the foreign body, location of the foreign body and outcomes of direct laryngoscopy/bronchoscopy. Data were analyzed with SPSS version 20.
Results: There were 45 cases: 64.4% (n=29) were males giving a male to female ratio of 2:1. Majority of foreign body aspirations occurred in children 3years or below. Aspiration of metallic objects occurred more frequently 9 (20.0%) followed by corn 8 (17.8%) and plastic objects 6 (13.3%). Majority of foreign bodies were located in the right main bronchus and there were two failed bronchoscopies.
Conclusion: Foreign body aspiration occurred more frequently in children three years or less and was more common in males. Majority of foreign bodies were located/lodged in the right main bronchus with metallic objects being the most aspirated.
Keywords: Foreign body, aspiration, children, Kumasi, Ghana