A Statistical Survey of Foreign Body Removal under General Anesthesia

Cho, Hun; Kong, Myeong Hoon; Lee, Hye Won; Chae, Byung Kook; Chang, Seong Ho; Shin, Jung Soon

Abstract

Foreign body accidents in the air and food passages are common problem encountered in the ENT field. Especially the foreign body accidents in the air passage in the children are serious and urgent. They are influenced by mode of living, customs, habits and environment1). We have clinico-statistically analysed 83 cases removal of foreign bodies in air and food passages under general anesthesia from January 1979 to March 1991 in Korea Univer- sity Hospital. The results are as follows: 1) Of the total 83 cases,64 cases(77.1%) were in food passage and 19 cases(22.9%) were in air passage. 2) Peanuts and beans were the most common intruders of air passage(79%). In the food passage coins enjoyed the greatest popularity(31.3%) and bones, Badook stones, and meats follow in order of frequency. 3) In the age distribution, 42.1% of foreign bodies in food passage and 78.9% of foreign bodies in air passage were under 5 years. 4) Of the total numbers of foreign body cases, 61.4% of the patients were male and 38.6 % were female. 5) In duration of lodgement, 44 cases(68.8) of foreign bodies in food passage and 6 cases(31.6%) in air passage were removed within 24 hours. 6) In food passage, 56 cases(87.5%) of all were diagnosed initially by chest P-A but 9 cases(47%) were diagnosed initially in air passage.