FOREIGN BODY LOWER RESPIRATORY TRACT: SUSPICION SCORING SYSTEM

Abstract

Ashfak R. Kakeri1, Anees H. Patel2

ABSTRACT: Foreign body aspiration accidents are due mainly to carelessness of the parents to give children unsuitable articles or inedible objects to eat or play with. Bronchoscopists have removed variety of objects from the tracheobronchial tree ranging from beans, nuts, seeds, bone pieces, toys, teeth, pencil caps, nails pins, tracheostomy tubes etc. types of foreign bodies also have changing trend. Plastic foreign bodies are making their appearance more and more. A diagnosis of foreign body in the lower air way should not be arrived at by “exclusion”; as is presently done. But it should always be kept in mind as a distinct possibility and proactively ruled out. We thought of developing a scoring system which would take in to account various parameters & help the clinician in suspecting the possibility of foreign body in the bronchus. Foreign body in the tracheobronchial tree is potentially a fatal condition if not managed properly. A foreign body in bronchus can simulate other respiratory diseases and is likely missed, if medical treatment does not carry index of suspicion.
 

image