Foreign Body Aspiration in Pediatric Patients: Bronchoscopy Delay May Be Beneficial

However, Dr. Lutch feels that pediatric patients who are not in acute distress may benefit from waiting a few hours to optimize surgical conditions by ensuring that the operating room staff is intimately familiar with the bronchoscopic apparatus, the anesthesia staff is experienced in pediatric airway cases, critical care specialists are available, and there is ready access to a pediatric intensive care unit. A short delay also allows for clearance of GI contents.

It is unusual for more than eight hours’ notice to be required to mobilize these resources, said Dr. Lutch. Our clinical experience shows that such delays have no adverse effect on outcomes. It is necessary to counsel the families of patients, as well our pediatric colleagues, that performing rigid bronchoscopy in a delayed urgent fashion can potentially avert disaster by optimizing every circumstance surrounding foreign body removal.

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