Tracheobronchial and esophageal foreign bodies in the pediatric population.

A foreign body lodged in the aerodigestive tract of a child often poses a difficult medical problem. Experience with the diagnosis and removal of these foreign bodies is presented in this retrospective review. The description by a witness of the actual ingestion frequently provided the key to diagnosis. Rigid endoscopy remains a safe technique for foreign body extraction with a low resultant morbidity and mortality. Organic matter comprises the majority of bronchial foreign bodies (70%) while coins are the predominant finding (80%) in the esophagus.