Letters to the Editor Indian Pediatrics 1999; 36:209-210 |
Foreign Bodies in Respiratory Passages |
1. The reported series, highlighted that left sided FB can occur more commonly than right sided ones. What is even more interesting about the location, in this series is the presence of FB over the bifurcation of the trachea in 3 cases, resulting in obstructive emhysema in both the lungs. A FB which is inverted V shaped (e.g., open safety pin) or 'tent' shaped can sit over the carina with its apex pointing upwards. Even then it is difficult to comprehend how a FB with a wide base (wider than carina) can pass down the trachea. So I would like to know what type of carinal FBs were present in these 3 patients, their radiological appearances and their age. What was the prognosis in them. In two large series of 140 and 224 cases(2,3) the FBs were predominantly lodged on right side and not a single case of carinal FB was reported. 2. Bronchoscopic removal of FB was done in 20 cases, whereas 3 FBs were expelled spontaneously during investigations. What about the other 2 cases? 3. What could be the reason that not a single patient with radio opaque FB or with consolidation was documented in the series? 4. Lateralisation of FB depends on its. size and nature and on the age of the child. I would like an elaboration of this statement.
Ramesh Yelsangikar, |
References |
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