Avoiding unnecessary bronchoscopy in children with suspected foreign body aspiration using computed tomography.

Avoiding unnecessary bronchoscopy in children with suspected foreign body aspiration using computed tomography.

Gibbons AT; Casar BAM; Hanke RE; McNinch NL; Person A; Mehlman T; Rubin M; Ponsky TA

Journal of Pediatric Surgery

2020

2020-01

BACKGROUND: Bronchoscopy is the standard of care for diagnosis and treatment of foreign body aspiration (FBA). Drawbacks of this approach include its invasiveness, the potential for exacerbation of reactive airway disease, and the need for general anesthesia. Computed tomography (CT) can potentially identify patients with FBA, thereby avoiding unnecessary bronchoscopies in patients with at-risk reactive airways. METHODS: A retrospective review was performed to identify patients who underwent CT and/or bronchoscopy for suspected foreign body aspiration (FBA) from June 2012 to September 2018. Variables included clinical history, exam findings, radiographic findings, and operative findings. A telephone survey was performed for patients who had a CT without bronchoscopy. Three radiologists performed rereads of all CTs. RESULTS: A total of 133 patients were evaluated for FBA, and 84 were treated with bronchoscopy. For those with a CT demonstrating a foreign body, findings were confirmed on bronchoscopy in 17/18 (94.4%). For those with bronchoscopy alone, 39/64 (60.9%) were found to have a foreign body (p < 0.01). CT excluded FBA in 49 patients. Sensitivity was 100%, specificity was 98%, and interobserver reliability was excellent (κ = 0.88). CONCLUSION: CT is an accurate and reliable diagnostic tool in the evaluation of FBA that can increase the rate of positive bronchoscopy. TYPE OF STUDY: Retrospective comparative study. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III.

Humans; Male; Female; Unnecessary Procedures; Infant; Adolescent; Child; Sensitivity and Specificity; Child Preschool; Retrospective Studies; Tomography X-Ray Computed; Observer Variation; Bronchoscopy; Bronchoscopy; Computed tomography; Foreign Bodies/diagnostic imaging/therapy; Foreign body aspiration; Respiratory System/diagnostic imaging

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journalArticle

176-181

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1531-5037 0022-3468

NEOMED College of Medicine

Department of Radiology

Hospital List

Akron Children's Hospital