Foreign Body Management

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Pediatric FB: Overview - Tiny Trespassers Alert

  • Common pediatric emergency; driven by curiosity & oral exploration.
  • Peak incidence: 1-3 years.
  • Types:
    • Organic: Peanuts, seeds (can swell, ↑ inflammation).
    • Inorganic: Coins, button batteries ⚠️, small toys.
  • Common sites: Ear, nose, airway (laryngotracheal), esophagus.
  • Button batteries & paired magnets: URGENT removal. Coin in Esophagus X-ray

⭐ Most common age group for foreign body aspiration is 1-3 years.

Pediatric FB: Presentation - Location Clues Galore

Foreign body (FB) presentation varies significantly with its location. Early recognition is key.

SiteKey Symptoms
NoseUnilateral foul purulent discharge, epistaxis, nasal obstruction, pain, sneezing.
Ear CanalOtalgia, otorrhea (may be foul), ↓hearing, bleeding; often initially asymptomatic.
Pharynx/LarynxSudden gagging, dysphagia, odynophagia, excessive drooling, stridor, hoarseness, cough, dyspnea.
Trachea/BronchusParoxysmal cough, unilateral/fixed wheeze, dyspnea, stridor, cyanosis; "Audible slap", "Palpable thud".
EsophagusDysphagia (solids > liquids), odynophagia, drooling, food refusal, retrosternal pain, vomiting.

Pediatric FB: Diagnosis - Spotting the Suspect

  • High clinical suspicion is key: based on history (witnessed event, acute choking/drooling) & exam.
  • Imaging Studies:
    • X-ray (AP/Lat): First-line. Shows radio-opaque FBs.
    • 📌 Coin Sign: Esophagus (AP: O, Lat: |), Trachea (AP: |, Lat: O).
    • CT Scan: If X-ray normal with high suspicion, or for complications.
  • Endoscopy (Bronchoscopy/Esophagoscopy): Gold standard for diagnosis & removal.

⭐ A coin in the esophagus typically appears as a circle (en face) on an AP X-ray, while in the trachea it appears as a circle on a lateral X-ray (sagittal orientation).

Coin in esophagus vs trachea X-ray comparison

Pediatric FB: Management - Eviction & Aftermath

FB Removal Techniques:

SitePrimary Method(s)Key Point(s)
Airway⭐ Rigid Bronchoscopy (Gold Standard)GA essential
Flexible BronchoscopyDiagnostic/select removal
EsophagusEndoscopy (Rigid/Flexible)Button battery: EMERGENCY (<6h)
Foley catheter / BougienageSpecific indications
NosePositive pressure, InstrumentationAvoid posterior push
EarInstrumentation, Irrigation (not organic/battery)Kill live insects (oil/lidocaine)

Airway FB Management Flow:

Aftermath & Complications:

  • Post-removal: Observation, follow-up CXR (airway FB). Steroids/antibiotics if indicated (e.g., edema, infection).
  • Potential Complications:
    • Airway: Pneumonia, atelectasis, granulation, stenosis.
    • Esophageal: Perforation, mediastinitis, stricture. Button battery: severe burns, fistula.

⭐ Rigid bronchoscopy is the gold standard for diagnosis and removal of tracheobronchial foreign bodies in children.

Pediatric FB: Special Cases - Battery & Magnet Menace

  • Button Batteries: Urgent!
    • Mechanism: Liquefaction necrosis, electrical discharge.
      • Anode: $Li + H_2O \rightarrow LiOH + 1/2 H_2$
      • Cathode: $MnO_2 + 2H_2O + 2e^- \rightarrow Mn(OH)_2 + 2OH^-$
    • ⚠️ Esophageal: Remove <2 hrs. X-ray: Halo (AP), step-off (Lat).
    • Complications: Perforation, fistula.

    ⭐ Button batteries lodged in the esophagus require emergent removal, ideally within 2 hours, due to the high risk of liquefaction necrosis and perforation.

  • Magnets (Multiple/Metal FB):
    • Risk: Pressure necrosis → bowel fistula/perforation.
    • Tx: Prompt removal (endoscopic/surgical). Pediatric Esophageal Button Battery X-ray Seriesoka

High‑Yield Points - ⚡ Biggest Takeaways

  • Esophageal button batteries: EMERGENCY! Remove within 2-6 hours to prevent necrosis/perforation.
  • Airway FBs: Commonly in right main bronchus. Rigid bronchoscopy for diagnosis & removal.
  • Esophageal coins: Appear circular on AP X-ray. Tracheal coins are edge-on.
  • Nasal FBs: Suspect with unilateral foul rhinorrhea or persistent epistaxis.
  • Aural FBs (insects): Kill/immobilize insects (e.g., lidocaine, oil) before removal.
  • Choking: Heimlich maneuver (>1 yr); 5 back blows & 5 chest thrusts for infants (<1 yr).

Practice Questions: Foreign Body Management

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A child with acute respiratory distress showing hyperinflation of the unilateral lung in X-ray is due to –

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Flashcards: Foreign Body Management

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If a child presents with unilateral, foul-smelling nasal discharge, _____ must be excluded

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If a child presents with unilateral, foul-smelling nasal discharge, _____ must be excluded

foreign body

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