Complications following oat head aspiration.

We report 5 cases of oat head aspiration in children that resulted in serious complications due to the unidirectional migration of the oat head to the periphery of the lung. The complications included pneumothorax, pneumomediastinum, recurrent hemoptysis, chronic lung disease, bronchiectasis, lobectomy, bronchopleural and bronchocutaneous fistulae, pleural effusion, empyema cavity, and, one not described before, osteomylitis of the rib. Physicians should be aware of the dangers with this particular foreign body aspiration.