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Aims & objectives: To study the different aspects of foreign body inhalation. Study design Interventional, Cross sectional. Place & duration: The department of otorhinolaryngology unit II, Mayo Hospital, Lahore over a period of eighteen months i.e. from June, 1996 through December, 1997. Subject & Methods: Fifty consecutive patients with a history of foreign body inhalation belonging to either sex and any age sex group were included. All patients underwent endoscopy under general anesthesia. Results There were 31 males and 19 females. Youngest patient was 6 months old, oldest was 41 years of age. Symptoms include cough (92%) dyspnoea (34%) and wheezing (28%). Signs were decreased air entry on auscultation (78%), rhonchi (48%) and use of accessory muscles of respiration (36%). X-rays showed radio-opaque foreign body in 14% cases. Endoscopic extraction was successful in 100% patients. Site of lodgment of foreign body was the right main bronchus (58%), left main bronchus (22%) and bilateral (4%). Conclusions Children are at risk of foreign body inhalation which is almost entirely preventable. Development of sudden respiratory symptoms should raise the suspicion of foreign body inhalation in children.
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