Unusual cases of foreign bodies in air passage in children

Abstract

Tracheobronchial foreign bodies when not treated promptly continue to be a source of morbidity and mortality specially in the paediatric population. Chevaliar Jackson, through meticulous analysis of mechanical problems related to foreign bodies in the air and food passages and their solution, created a science of rehearsed and tested instrumental techniques for their extraction (Jackson and Jackson, 1936). They developed instruments to achieve remarkable results with an almost unbelievably low morbidity and mortality.Aspiration of foreign bodies is seen more commonly in the paediatric age group and nearly 94% of them occur in infants and children (Holinger and Holinger, 1978). According to Jackson, nearly 90% of these foreign body accidents are due to carelessness, and are therefore avoidable. We present two unusual cases of inorganic foreign bodies in the air passages in children with special reference to the problems encountered in their diagnosis and management.