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Foreign Body Aspiration
editThe ingestion and aspiration of foreign objects poses a common and dangerous problem in young children. It remains one of the leading cause of death in children under the age of 5.[9] Common food items (baby carrots, peanuts, etc.) and household objects (coins, metals, etc.) may lodge in various levels of the airway tract and cause significant obstruction of the airway. Complete obstruction of the airway represents a medical emergency. During such crisis, caretakers may attempt back blows, abdominal thrust, or the Heimlich maneuver to dislodge the inhaled object and reopen airflow into the lungs.[10]
In the hospital setting, healthcare practitioners will make the diagnosis of foreign body aspiration from the medical history, physical exam, and in some cases perform chest radiographs (which may show signs of air-trapping in the affected lung). In advanced airway management, the inhaled foreign objects, however, are either removed by blind suction or under direct inspection of the airway with a laryngoscope or bronchoscope. If removal is not possible, other surgical methods should be considered.[11]