Bronchial Foreign Bodies: Telescopic Approach in Port Harcourt

Removal of foreign bodies from the airway, especially in children require special skill and proper instrumentation. In telescopic bronchoscopy airway accessibility is made easy and hence removal becomes less challenging, compared to other methods. Aim of this study is to showcase the telescope in the process of tracheobronchial foreign body removal.

Methods: The Telescopic Bronchoscope forms the major armament for this study. This is in contrast to other types of bronchoscope used in accessing the tracheobronchial tree for foreign body extraction. The German Richard Wolf Telescopic Bronchoscope was used. Other components of this instrument include, the light source and light cable for excellent illumination. The fibre optic and rigid bronchoscopes were not used in this study.

Results: 24 children under this study presented in University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, either referred from other centres or presented on their own. Fourteen (14) male and (10) ten female with male/female ratio of 2:1. Foreign bodies retrieval were groundnut (38%), fish bone (21%), others were plastic toy pieces, screw nuts. The right main bronchus, (61%) recorded the highest lodgement.

Conclusion: Foreign body in the airway especially in children is life threatening. The use of telescope offers excellent armament, preventing mortality.