Aerodigestive-tract foreign bodies in children: pitfalls in management.

A review of the charts of pediatric patients admitted with the final diagnosis of tracheobronchial or esophageal foreign bodies was carried out for the 5 years prior to September 30, 1992. Removal of foreign bodies from the aerodigestive tract poses little problem for the experienced endoscopist, and the inference that the diagnosis and initial management of patients should be equally well performed often follows. However, initial misdiagnosis, delayed diagnosis, inappropriate methods of patients transfer, or great variation in diagnosis methods still provide ample opportunity for delay in treatment and complication. Pitfalls in management occurred because of incomplete radiographic evaluation, confusion due to prior or concurrent illness, improper patient transfer, unusual presentation, and inappropriate methods of foreign-body removal. Demonstrative cases and summary statistics are presented.